Myanmar’s first openly contested elections since 1990

(Vatican Radio)  Myanmar, also known as Burma, is holding its first openly contested elections in 25 years. But will the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi win enough votes to be able to choose the next president? Suu Kyi herself is banned from taking the role of president by the constitution because she has two sons who are British citizens.

Ben Rogers is an expert on Burma who works for the human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide, specializing in religious freedom. He spoke to Susy Hodges. 

Listen to the interview with Ben Rogers, an expert on Burma at Christian Solidarity Worldwide: 

Asked about the likely election outcome, Rogers believes that there is a good chance for the National League for Democracy to do well and win the necessary number of seats to be able to choose the next president if the poll is conducted reasonably fairly.

Suu Kyi has been criticised for not speaking out sufficiently on the plight of the Rohingya, the persecuted mostly Muslim minority who do not have a vote. But according to Rogers this is because the opposition leader is trying to achieve a delicate balancing act by not antagonising her main supporters, the Burmese Buddhist community, who have accused her of being "too pro-Muslim" when it comes to the Rohingya issue.