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13-19 September: Election Commission Wipes Away Opposition

By Burma Partnership  •  September 20, 2010

On 14 September, the Union Election Commission (EC) officially announced the dissolution of the National League for Democracy and nine other political parties. The NLD and five other political parties – the Union Pao National Organization, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy Party, the Shan State Kokang Democratic Party, and the Wa National Development Party – were dissolved because they failed to re-register under section 25 of the junta’s Political Parties’ Registration Law. An additional five political parties were banned because they failed to meet the minimum candidate requirements.

State-run media that carried the news of the dissolutions also accused the NLD of “attempting to mislead the people into misunderstanding the law”. The article threatened those opposing the elections with jail time and large fines.

On 16 September, the EC rejected the applications of 14 leading Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) members, who had applied to run as independent candidates after their party’s registration application was rejected due to links with the Kachin Independence Organization. KSPP Secretary Tu Raw said the party and its members had been refused registration because “the USDP knows that it is impossible for them to compete with the KSPP in Kachin State.”

On the same day, the EC announced that polling would not be conducted in over 3,400 villages in ethnic areas across Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Mon and Shan States because of security concerns. The commission has declared that those constituencies will not be in the “condition to hold a free and fair elections” due to the presence of ceasefire and non-ceasefire ethnic armed groups. One Shan leader has estimated that in Shan State alone as many as two million people – around 30 percent of the population – would not be allowed to vote. As the cancellation of polls was a possibility was outlined in the regime’s election laws, the move is not surprising. However, it does illustrate the regime’s efforts to marginalize ethnic voices in the upcoming polls. It is now expected that these constituencies will be awarded to USDP candidates.

The EC’s recent announcements have effectively brushed aside any party that could take votes from the USDP and other junta-backed parties, and denied the voice of millions of voters. As the regime takes greater steps to withhold fundamental democratic rights, we see that there is a growing likelihood of intensified resistance. Given the regime’s propensity for violent crackdowns, we are deeply concerned that the situation in the lead up to the elections will continue to deteriorate.

News Highlights

NLD protests dissolution and continues to challenge election laws in court; members intimidated by authorities and are under constant surveillance

Inside Burma

Election Commission approves 37 political parties; also approves three leading former military generals and building tycoons as candidates

Senior USDP officials to run in Rangoon, including the former commander of Rangoon Military Regional Command

Election Commission rejects Democratic Party candidate due to past tax irregularities, and the All Mon Regions Democracy Party from contesting ethnic minority constituencies in Rangoon and Tenasserim Division

Less than 8% of election candidates are female

Election Commission announces restrictions on TV and radio campaigning

Junta issues directive to army troops instructing them to vote for the USDP and to “avoid a repeat of the 1990 elections”

Junta increases police presence in Rangoon in full combat gear ahead of the elections

USDP membership recruitment strategy includes blackmailing and threatening residents in Shan State

Democratic Party (Myanmar) announces that it will cooperate with individual candidates in Rangoon

NDF leader criticizes Election Commission decision to have large number of polling stations, making it difficult for party representatives to monitor all locations

NLD members and supporters from Mandalay Division and Shan State support election boycott

All Burma Monks Association calls for election boycott

Burma’s bloggers and citizen journalists plan to “individually monitor the elections”

Leading political activist and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s mentor, Ohn Myint, passes away in Rangoon; NLD members mourn the loss

NLD leader U Tin Oo to travel to Singapore for vital eye surgery, but is concerned the junta may bar his re-entry to Burma

Shan State Army-North and SPDC army clash in northern Shan State

SPDC army actively seeks to recruit youth soldiers in advertisements, promising computer diplomas, sergeant ranking and clerical staff position after the training

Junta accuses opposition groups as fueling tension in the lead up to the elections

Still no legal proceedings against army soldiers responsible for the Pegu killings

Courts extend jail terms by 20 years for seven activists with alleged ties to the All Burma Students Democratic Front

Regional

Thai representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights recommends the regime accept a UN commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity

Migrant workers from Burma continue to strike in Khon Kaen, Thailand

Daily survival increasingly difficult for displaced Mon villagers on the Thai-Burma border

International

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expresses concern over the dissolution of political parties

UK Foreign Minister condemns dissolution of NLD, declares that “these actions expose the elections in Burma for what they are – a sham process designed to keep the regime in power and deny the Burmese people their right to freely choose their leaders”

France “shocked” by NLD dissolution, states that “conditions do not exist for November 7 elections to be considered democratic and credible”

United States expresses disappointment but is likely to continue policy of engagement after the elections

English teenager to speak on human rights violations in Burma at a London prayer vigil with Pope Benedict XVI

Australia backs reproductive health manual for healthcare workers and volunteers on the Thai-Burma border

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Opinion

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Countdown to Freedom: Aung San Suu Kyi Must Be Released On November 13, 2010
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Indiana University expert: Don’t pin hopes on Burma’s upcoming elections
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It Is AICHR’s Turn to Move Forward to Promote and Protect Human Rights in Southeast Asia
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Reports

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Tags: 2010 Elections, Union Election Commission

This post is in: Weekly Highlights

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