Nay Pyi Taw, February (2)
The military regime’s Union Election Commission has issued a statement stating that those who want to establish a political party can apply within 60 days in accordance with newly enacted laws and rules.
The Political Parties Registration Rules, which set a party registration fee of K 1 million, were issued by the junta UEC on January 31, the 2nd anniversary of the state of emergency.
The statement said those wishing to form political parties and those wishing to continuously stand as political parties, may submit the application in accordance with prescribed law and rules at the office of the Union Election Commission, during office hours, starting from the date when this announcement was issued.
According to Section 5(f) and (g) of the newly enacted Political Parties Registration Law, if the party will carry out organizational activities across the entire Union, the personal undertaking that at least 100,000 party members will be mobilized within 90 days after granting of registration as a political party and the party shall have a party fund amounting to K100 million.
Similarly, if the party will carry out organizational activities only within the region or state, the personal undertaking that at least 1,000 party members will be mobilized within 90 days after granting of registration as a political party while the party shall have a party fund amounting to K10 million and the said respective amount of fund shall be paid in at a Myanma Economic Bank and submit the acknowledgement receipt.
Section 5(h) of the Political Party Law stipulates that a party that will carry out organizational activities throughout the Union must open offices in at least half of all townships nationwide within 180 days.
Karen National Democratic Party’ Chairman, Mann Aung Pyi Soe, told Than Lwin Times that he intends to register his party as a party that will cover only the region or state due to the restrictions on party members and funds in the current law.
On January 26, military leader General Min Aung Hlaing signed the law Political Parties Registration Law, drawing criticism from political parties.
According to U Tha Tun Hla, chairman of the Arakan National Party (ANP), public interest in political parties is waning as a result of the current political issues, and even if one party had to divide into two or three, it would be challenging.
The political party rules stipulate that anyone seeking to found a party must obey the country’s Constitution and submit their application form along with a declaration that they are not currently serving a prison sentence.
In Myanmar, there are currently 91 political parties. Within 60 days of this Law’s promulgation, the current parties that wish to continue as political parties must submit an application to the Commission. The status of a political party shall be presumed to have been immediately invalidated if no such application is submitted.
News-Than Lwin Times
Thanlwintimes