Myanmar’s first internationally monitored elections this Sunday could help prove the new government’s dedication to democracy. The polls anticipated to bring Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament for the first time could help inspire other countries to lift sanctions imposed against the pariah regime.

The opposition leader has warned elections will be neither free nor fair because of irregularities including intimidation of candidates, but is pressing on with her bid.

And another of the country’s democracy leaders feels it is still too soon for optimism following more than 50 years of military rule.

“It’s hard to say at the moment, I am neither pessimist nor optimist,” said Paw Oo Tun on Friday, ahead of the April 1 polls in an e-mail interview. 

Better known by his student-leader alias of Min Ko Naing, the campaigner’s democracy efforts have set him in the eyes of many as second only to Nobel laureate Suu Kyi. He spent most of the last 22 years in solitary confinement, jailed several times for his work to mobilize thousands of people in democracy movements. But he was recently one of 651 political prisoners released in an amnesty this Jan. 13.

He is now campaigning tirelessly to open up his country.

“A democratic country has to have elections,” he said, but added that “fear from both sides, the regime and the people,” remained a barrier to democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.

“The most important thing is that all members of the government must trust the reforms that they have said they will make,” he said.

Though they will be Myanmar’s first externally monitored polls, results of this weekend’s 45 by-elections will be more symbolic than regime-changing for the 664-seat parliament.

Ahead of the results, Min Ko Naing also urged other nations to think of his people before investing in the impoverished but resource-rich country as international sanctions are lifted.

“I would like to discuss sanctions under the title of development,” he said. “We have no rules and regulations and all businesses are monopolized by cronies. Much corruption exists at all levels. So, if a lot of investment comes into the country, these cronies will occupy all opportunities. Investors should think of our people as the first priority.”

He said he had not yet decided whether to run in the 2015 general elections as democracy supporters have called on him to do, but is ceaselessly campaigning to open up his nation.

“At all times, except for at bed time, I am meeting and talking with people, organizations and media. We are trying to open up our society for our people,” he said.

By Kirsty Taylor (kirstyt@heraldcorp.com)