The NLD's election conduct was illegal "so we will have to dissolve the party's registration," the chairman of the junta-backed Union Election Commission, Thein Soe, was cited in the report as saying. "Those who did that will be considered as traitors and we will take action," he added. A spokesman for the junta and for a pro-democracy national unity government, which includes ousted members of the NLD, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Myanmar's army took power on February 1 alleging fraud in the November election that was swept by the party of Suu Kyi, who fought for democracy for decades before tentative reforms began a decade ago. The electoral commission at the time had rejected the army's complaints. Security forces have killed more than 800 people in protests since the coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group says. Fighting has also flared between the security forces and ethnic minority guerrilla groups.
