ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - At least eight ministers in the cabinet of Burma's military government along with the mayor of Rangoon will resign from their current positions in preparation to contest the upcoming 2010 election, a source in the military said.

According to the source in Naypyitaw, ministers from the Ministries of Forestry, Construction, Immigration & Population, Livestock Breeding & Fisheries, Transport, Agriculture & Irrigation, Industry (1), Communication, Posts & Telegraphs, in addition to the mayor of Rangoon, will soon retire from their positions as part of the lead up to the 2010 general election.

Despite criticism from the political opposition, Burma's military junta is determined to carry out its planned seven step roadmap, which includes the general election as its fifth component.

"The ministers will contest in constituencies where they are sure of gaining majority support," said an observer in Burma, adding that Aung Thawng from the Ministry of Industry (1) is likely to contest in Mandalay, while Brigadier General Thein Zaw from the Ministry of Communication, Posts & Telegraphs is likely to run in Myitkyina, Kachin state.

He added that the junta is also likely to impose restrictions on opposition parties – including the National League for Democracy (NLD) – in contesting the election that is likely to shape a new government for the country with limited civilian participation.

Despite a landslide win in the last general election in 1990, Burma's military junta denied power to the NLD, instead placing party leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.

The list of the eight ministers and the mayor, who are likely to resign from their positions, are given below: