The Wire

Once the economic envy of south-east Asia, Burma now exists under brutal military rule to the sufferance of a great many of the nation’s citizens. The regime have cowed to holding elections, but the date has been continually delayed, with October 2010, specifically 10.10.10, now cast as most likely. Further delays or a cancellation of the ballot is not unthinkable. Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi heads the National League for Democracy, and has lived in detention since her most recent arrest in 2003. The National League for Democracy (NLD) has withdrawn from any emergent election, as they believe any poll will be unscrupulously conducted by the regime.