A/HRC/16/59 happening and to address truth, justice and accountability issues that will continue to impact the human rights situation. The Special Rapporteur intends to continue engaging the Government of Myanmar in the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation as called for by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. The Special Rapporteur will continue to address the important issues of truth, justice and accountability, prisoners of conscience and his four core human rights elements while also examining economic, social and cultural rights. 8. As he was unable to conduct a country visit, the Special Rapporteur is planning a mission to the region before his presentation to the Human Rights Council in March 2011 in order to update his understanding of the human rights situation in Myanmar. 9. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in particular at Headquarters, Bangkok and New York, for assisting him in discharging his mandate. II. Analysis of the elections of 7 November 2010 10. National legislative elections were held on 7 November 2010, the first national elections since 1990. The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper published a 24-page supplement on 17 November with the ballot count of each parliamentary seat. Until then, results had been incrementally announced in the State-run media. The Election Commission reported voter turnout exceeding 100 per cent in some constituencies and declared two proGovernment candidates winners in constituencies in Kachin State where elections had been cancelled. On 7 December, the Election Commission announced voter turnout had been 77 per cent of Myanmar’s 29 million eligible voters. 11. Prior to the election, the Union Solidarity and Development Association, a mass organization created by the ruling State Peace and Development Council officials, was transformed into the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), with former Prime Minister Thein Sein as head. USDP won 883 of the 1,154 seats open to the electorate. In the Nationalities Assembly (the upper house), the party took 77 per cent (129) of the elected seats, and in the People’s Assembly (the lower house), it won 79 per cent (259) of the elected seats. With the seats reserved for the military (25 per cent of each legislature), USDP and the military bloc will have an overwhelming legislative majority. 12. In the 14 regional and state assemblies, however, the results were mixed. While USDP won almost all the seats in most Burman-dominated central regions, in ethnic areas the party won sizeable blocs but has a majority only in Kayah State. In Chin State, USDP won 29 per cent of seats while the Chin Progressive Party and the Chin National Party each won 21 per cent. In Rakhine State, USDP won 30 per cent of seats while the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party won 38 per cent. In theory, special sessions could be convened by these other parties, which might mean that they would have the ability to influence these bodies to positive effect. However, the actual functioning of the regional assemblies, including how often they meet, remains to be seen. 13. According to observers inside Myanmar, polling on election day itself was generally peaceful and orderly despite some reports of irregularities. There were numerous reports of intimidation of journalists and confiscation and destruction of their property throughout the country. The Press Scrutiny and Registration Division also reportedly informed private media that they were only allowed to carry official news issued by the Union Election Commission. 14. During the counting process, the phenomenon of advance votes caused upsets in numerous instances. On the evening of 7 November, on the basis of observation of votes 4