Landslide victory for Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi

"The election commission says the final result could take up two weeks to be released. "

In historic elections in Burma, the opposition National League for Democracy Party, or NLD, is confident of a landslide win.  

Only half of the election results have been announced, but already the head of the army and the presidential spokesperson have congratulated opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The election commission says the final result could take up two weeks to be released. 

In the meantime, there are huge celebrations for the opposition victory. 

Maung Myo joined the crowd in Yangon.  

Jubilant crowds packed the streets outside the headquarters of the main opposition party last Monday.

As results of election commission rolled in, supporters roared with approval whenever an NLD victory was announced.

Wai Myo San was among the crowd. 

“Today is victorious day,” he says, “I came here to check the result. I wanted to know is winning.” 

The NLD is expected to win a majority of the seats in the parliament. 

Election commission officials are still announcing the results day by day for other states and regions around the country. 

But The NLD is expected to win more than 80 percent of the both houses of parliament. 

And supporters are already celebrating their victory. 

A winning candidate for NLD, Thet Thet Khaing say people desperately need a good leader. 

“Our country needs an institute that can lead us to a better system in this country,” he says, “Our country was misled for more than 50 years so now it is time to correct the mistake.” 

The election results have shown that people want to get rid of the current government. 

But Nobel Peace Prize winner and the leader of the NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi is cautious about not upsetting the current government. 

Speaking on the stage, she asked her supporters to stay calm and respect those who lost in the election. 

“I want to ask you to avoid using words that may bring shame to those who lost in the election. Our victory is for all people in the country,” he says, “Not for any individual or organization. That is why, we would like to invite all people to work hand and hand together.”  

Suu Kyi has written to President Thein Sein, lower house speaker Shwe Mann and military commander-in-chief Sr. General Min Aung Hlaing, requesting a meeting in the interests of "national reconciliation". 

The ruling party, the United Solidarity and Development party, is expected to lose most seats. 

A party leader, Htay Oo, says the party will respect the election results. 

“We don't know the official result yet but we will accept what it turns out,” explains Htay Oo. 

Skeptics are worried the government might not hand over the power to NLD.

But for those like Wai Myo, they are depending on the NLD to create a brighter future.

“I have big hopes for the NLD. If the NLD gets into power, I hope there will be dramatic change. We will get rid of totalitarianism,” he says, “Now, grass roots are struggling for survival so if the decision makers are changing, the life of those at the grass roots might be better and more prosperous.”  

It is too soon to say just changes the NLD will bring to the country. 

But one thing for sure is the road for NLD toward better democracy and prosperity of the people is still a long way to go.

• eng
• Burma Election
• Maung Myo
• Aung San Suu Kyi
• NLD Burma