Week 28: 2010 Election Watch (14-20 September)

Developments

• The SPDC Election Commission announced that polls would not be held in 3,314 Villages in Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Mon, and Shan States because “they are in no position to host free and fair elections.”
• The SPDC Election Commission rejected the application of 14 Kachin State Progressive Party members to run as independent candidates […]

Election Commission Wipes Away Opposition

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” […]

13-19 September: Election Commission Wipes Away Opposition

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” […]

Myanmar deprives ‘millions’ of vote in ethnic areas

Myanmar is scrapping voting in swathes of insurgency-plagued ethnic areas in its first election in two decades — a move criticised as excluding millions from a poll already seen as undemocratic.[…]

30 August – 5 September: USDP Dominates Election Candidate Lists

Political parties in Burma submitted their final candidate lists to the Union Election Commission on 30 August. While the Election Commission has until 10 September to formally approve of the candidates, informal reports about the candidate list do not appear promising.[…]

USDP Dominates Election Candidate Lists

Political parties in Burma submitted their final candidate lists to the Union Election Commission on 30 August. While the Election Commission has until 10 September to formally approve of the candidates, informal reports about the candidate list do not appear promising.[…]

Week 24: 2010 Election Watch (17-23 August)

Developments

• The SPDC Election Commission published Notification 91/2010 which requires candidates to seek approval for public speeches seven days in advance.. In addition, candidates cannot give speeches or distribute materials that criticize the constitution, “tarnish” the image of the state or the military, or “harm security. As with earlier regulations on campaign activities, chanting slogans, marching or carrying flags are prohibited as part of candidate rallies […]

Week 21: 2010 Election Watch (27 July – 2 August)

Developments

• The SPDC Election Commission told four leaders of the National Democratic Force that they must seek pardons for their past political activities if they want to participate in the upcoming elections […]

Week 18: 2010 Election Watch (6-12 July)

Developments

• Union Solidarity Development Party officials requested that village headmen in Mudon Township, Mon State, recruit 40 to 50 villagers in each village to join the party […]
July 14, 2010  •  By Altsean-Burma  •  Tags: Altsean-Burma, Difference and Peace Party, Kachin State Progressive Party, Khami National Development Party, National Democratic Force, Union Election Commission, Union Solidarity and Development Party  •  Read more ➤

Week 17: 2010 Election Watch (29 June-5 July)

Developments

• The Difference and Peace Party said that it may decide not to compete in the elections because of the SPDC Censorship Board’s media restrictions […]