RANGOON, Burma — Burma’s state-controlled media hailed Saturday the capture of a rare white elephant as a positive omen for coming elections, the first balloting in two decades in the military-ruled country.
The 7-foot-1-inch beast was captured Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade, the New Light of Burma newspaper reported on its front page.
“It is auspicious that a rare white elephant emerged at a time when Burma was going through a democratic transition and the elections will be held peacefully and successfully,” said the newspaper, considered a mouthpiece for the ruling junta.
White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Burma, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations.
Front Section, Pages 14 on 09/26/2010