"The following paper gives a concrete update since the last report ALTSEAN published on the electoral process in Burma [See ALTSEAN - Burma report on 2010 Elections : a recipe for continued conflict on: www.altsean.org/Reports/2010Electionsbis. php. ] It also explains how the regime is preparing itself for the day after the elections which are organized with only one aim: to ensure that the country will remain still hostage of the military for many more years to come.... Highlights: • The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) issues five repressive election laws that will ensure that the polls held in Burma later this year will be neither free nor fair. • Some of the repressive provisions include: ? Giving the Election Commission the authority to deny or delay elections in ethnic nationality areas for ?security reasons”. ? Excluding those who convicted of a crime and serving a jail term from being a member of a political party. ? Forbidding those associated with armed opposition groups - and potentially including those associated with ceasefire groups that reject the SPDC?s Border Guard Force (BGR) ultimatum - from taking part in the elections. • The SPDC continues to place severe restrictions on freedom and expression and assembly. • In response to the unfair and undemocratic election laws, the National League for Democracy (NLD) announces that it will boycott the SPDC?s elections. • In the meantime, the SPDC prepares to transfer its authority to junta-backed political parties and sell state assets to its loyal cronies. • On the border, ethnic tensions escalate as ceasefire groups refuse to accept the SPDC?s ultimatum that their militaries become BGFs. • In early 2010, SPDC military offensives in Eastern Burma displace more than 4,100 villagers. • UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma recommends the UN consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the SPDC. 4 / • Regardless of how the elections are conducted, the SPDC?s constitution will perpetuate military rule, because it stipulates that: ? The military occupies 25% of the seats in Parliament and controls 3 key Ministries; ? The military has effective veto power over constitutional amendments; ? The National Defense and Security Council further entrenches the military; ? Basic human rights are still threatened..."