Burma’s junta has set out laws governing the general election promised later this year, the new rules underline fears the vote is intended to consolidate military power under a democratic façade. The country’s state-run newspapers today published the election commission law, the first of five pieces of legislation which were formally passed on Monday. Under its terms, the military Government will appoint a five-person commission responsible for supervising the election, ensuring it keeps control over proceedings. “This demonstrates that the generals will dominate the entire process,” said Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK. “If this election were a football match the generals would be playing in both teams, as well as being the referee.” No date has been announced for the election, and it seems unlikely that the junta will meet the condition that major Western governments regard as the minimum for a fair election – the release from custody of democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.