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<div title="Page 1"> <div> <div> <p>There are around 3 million regular and irregular Myanmar migrant workers living and working in Thailand.</p> </div></div></div>

<p>Last week, the Women’s League of Burma marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by calling upon the incoming National League for Democracy Government to take a serious stance on the protection of women from sexual violence.</p>

<p>With the National League for Democracy (NLD)&nbsp;<a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=72826759&amp;msgid=909868&amp;act=98NZ&amp;c=348258&amp;destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvb.no%2Fnews%2Fnld-officially-wins-outright-majority-myanmar%2F59185">cementing its place</a>&nbsp;as the incoming government by achieving a supermajority in Parliament, the ongoing armed conflict in northern Burma, especially in Shan State, only highlights the pressing need for the new government to facilitate a genuine and inclusive peace process that works towards national reconciliation.<br /></p>

<p>&nbsp;The Asian Network for Free Elections(ANFREL) wishes to enthusiastically congratulate the people of Myanmar on their holding of General and Local Elections on November 8, 2015. Voters turned out in large numbers to peacefully exercise their democratic right to choose their own elected representatives. With many waiting in the early morning darkness hours before polls opened, the enthusiasm and patience shown by voters throughout the day is commendable.</p>

<p>On 4 November, Human Rights Watch (HRW)&nbsp;<a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=72826759&amp;msgid=909526&amp;act=98NZ&amp;c=348258&amp;destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrw.org%2Fnews%2F2015%2F11%2F04%2Fburma-election-fundamentally-flawed">released</a>&nbsp;a briefing on the fundamental flaws of Burma’s 2015 elections. Among numerous shortcomings, the statement highlighted the unapologetically biased nature of the Union Election Commission (UEC); an electoral body that should encourage the elections to be democratic – not influence them.</p>

<p>On 27 October 2015, the Union Election Commission (UEC)<a href="http://www.dvb.no/news/elections-cancelled-in-4-shan-townships-myanmar/58539">announced</a>&nbsp;that elections would be cancelled in four townships in Shan State as a result of the newly intensified fighting between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N).<a href="http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-army-launch-assault-on-shan-army-hq-myanmar/58568">According</a>&nbsp;to the Shan State Progressive Party, the political wing of the SSA-N, the Burma Army was seen to ramp up attacks against the SSA-N after they deliberated t</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/645/22757615531_ec54e95343_c.jpg" /></p> <div><span>Ethnic parties in Myanmar elections (Infographic: Myanmar Now, Prachatai) <a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/645/22757615531_ec54e95343_b.jpg">See large image here</a></span></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/782/22125224143_83307918a6_b.jpg" /></p>