Irrawaddy-Aug 30
Myanmar’s regime has introduced further restrictions on political parties after it barred them from speaking with international organizations or foreigners without permission from the junta’s electoral body. On August 11, the junta’s Union Election Commission (UEC) issued a notice requiring political parties to seek its approval before meeting foreign organizations and individuals. Last week it required foreign organizations to report to the regime’s foreign ministry through their embassies if they are to meet a political party in Myanmar. The UEC said it will act based on the response of the foreign ministry. Such a restriction is unprecedented in the history of Myanmar’s electoral bodies. In its August 11 notice, the UEC accused foreign embassies, international NGOs and affiliated domestic organizations of having intervened in the 2020 general election which the regime said was marred by massive electoral fraud. Citing Articles 407(c) and 408 of the military-drafted 2008 Constitution, and Article 6(f) of the Political Parties Registration Law, the UEC has warned that any parties failing to follow its August 11 instruction face dissolution. The articles say a party will have its registration revoked “if it directly or indirectly receives and expends financial, material and other assistance from a foreign government, a religious association, other association or a person from a foreign country”. More restrictions are expected in the Political Parties Registration Law which the regime has been amending as it prepares for an election next year. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-imposes-new-restrictions-on-political-parties.html
