Irrawaddy-Oct 21
Myanmar’s junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has banned campaign rallies and street processions for the December polls, citing security concerns. Instead, parties will be restricted to delivering speeches at designated venues approved by the authorities, according to party officials who spoke to The Irrawaddy. The UEC announced the restrictions during a meeting with political parties on Saturday, stating that security at speech venues would be handled by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Karen National Democratic Party chairman Mann Aung Pyae Soe explained that parties must submit requests in advance, specifying the date, location, and speakers for each event. “They will not allow processions. Only speeches at approved places are permitted,” he said. The UEC has set the official campaign period from October 28 to December 26, a 60-day period covering all phases of the polls. The Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) said it would rely heavily on online campaigning amid the restrictions and security risks. “We will campaign according to the situation in each constituency. We will campaign mostly online, though internet blackouts in some areas pose challenges,” said party joint secretary Sai Tun Lin. UEC chairman Than Soe warned that parties and independent candidates must avoid undermining the “dignity of the military” during speeches and must comply with provisions in the Election Protection Law. Violations, he said, would be met with legal action. Candidates are also bound by spending limits: 15 million kyats (about US$ 7,150) for parliamentary elections and 30 million kyats for regional ethnic minister contests. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/politics/myanmar-regime-bans-election-campaign-rallies.html#google_vignette
