Myanmar vote ban extinguishes hope for ethnic minorities

Supporters of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party dance and cheer on trucks during an election campaign for next month's general election in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. - AP

YANGON, Oct 24 (AFP): For many marginalised ethnic minority groups in conflict-plagued regions of Myanmar, next month's national elections had at least offered a glimmer of hope for empowerment.

But a decision to exclude swathes of their homelands from the vote -- ostensibly over security concerns -- has instead filled them with anger and despair, with nearly two million people now disenfranchised.