Yangon, June (23)
The role of re-registered political parties has declined under the military council that seized power by force, said veteran politicians and analysts.
The military council, which seized power in the 2020 general election on alleged voter fraud, enacted the Political Parties Registration Law on January 26, promising to hold elections.
Within 60 days of the law’s enactment, 63 political parties registered with the junta-established Union Election Commission (UEC), and the military council dissolved 40 unregistered political groups.
However, the political parties that were re-registered lost their rights to political cooperation and criticism.
Veteran politician U Pe Than stated that the roles of the parties are no longer realistic, and they are only concerned with the continued existence and safety of the party in a conflict-torn country, and the party’s voice is fading away.
Currently, political parties are only concerned with the survival of the parties under the Political Party Registration Law, and the opportunity to express the voice of the people is restricted.
According to the provisions of the Political Parties Registration Law, if a party is going to organize the entire union, it must have 100,000 party members and deposit 100 million Kyats in the bank within 90 days from the date of registration, and open party offices in at least 165 townships within 180 days.
In addition, a party that organizes only in one region or state must open party offices in at least five townships in that region or state.
The Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP) is currently struggling for a new party structure, so it cannot deal with ethnic affairs yet, said party chairman Mann Aung Pyi Soe.
Until now, the junta-controlled Union Election Commission has allowed 27 political parties to register, and the remaining parties are still being scrutinized.
However, with less than a month until the end of the state of emergency, the military council has yet to announce the date of the election.
According to U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, “no political party can proceed in a situation where even the military personnel does not dare to go out, and the political parties are just waiting for the military council to hold an election”.
The military council has committed to holding elections when the emergency period ends, and there are now 67 townships where security will be prioritized and 65 townships where security will be effectively provided, with some remote areas in need of additional security.
Of the 330 townships in the country’s regions and states, the military council is able to control only 198 townships, accounting for 60 percent of the country.
According to ISP-Myanmar data, over 8,000 clashes have erupted in more than 190 townships across the country in the two years since the military coup.
According to political analysts, Myanmar, which has expanded its military area, is still far from holding elections, and political parties will have to cope with the limitations of the military council.
News – Than Lwin Times
Photo: Social Media
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