Communist Laos went to the polls on Sunday for unashamedly single-party elections to one of the world's last communist-dominated parliaments. Only one of the 166 candidates standing for election to the 109-seat national assembly was not a member of the ruling Laos People's Revolutionary Party, fewer even than in the last elections in 1997.
Hammer and sickle banners and photographs of top communist officials adorned polling stations in case voters needed any reminder of which party to vote for.
Polling day security was tight around the capital as the communist authorities sought to prevent any repetition of a mystery 2000-01 bombing campaign, which marred the run-up to the ruling party's five-yearly Congress last year. Armed police in uniform manned the polling stations while militiamen in camouflage dress patrolled the streets outside.
But Laos number one Khamtay Siphandone insisted voters did not want a wider choice of party as he cast his ballot at a polling station in the capital shortly after polls opened at 7:00 am (0530 IST).
Please ask the Laos people what choice they would like, the communist party supremo and state president said in a rare appearance before the western media.
At the moment they like having the one party. They have had full confidence in our party since time immemorial ...Because the party has brought independence and prosperity to the Laos people, he said.
The sole non-party candidate in the election, justice minister Khamouane Boupha, said voters were not interested in a return to the divisiveness of multi-partyism.
Bureau Report