CNI News
2 Feb 2023
Political parties in Myanmar have been facing uncertainties due to the new political parties registration law issued by the Union Election Commission.
Some provisions of the new law have caused confusion over recruiting new members, opening party offices and registration of ethnic parties.
Similarly, section 15 (h) stipulates that registrations of political parties that have direct or indirect contacts with EAOs or terrorist organizations designated by the government or unlawful organizations shall be revoked.
The provision does not cover EAOs that are signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, Chairman U Sai Aik Paung of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party told the CNI.
UEC chairman U Thein Soe signed the rule for political parties registration.
He said, "They have already signed the NCA and action cannot be taken against those who have contacts with them under the section 17 (1) of the unlawful association act. The Shan State Progressive Party has also signed the NCA at the state and union levels. The party signed the state-level NCA when I was serving as a state minister. It signed the NCA at the union level and met with the commander-in-chief of defence services together with UWSA and Mongla."
His party has contacts with the KNU, one of the signatories to the NCA but it does not contact other EAOs, Chairman Mahn Aung Pyi Soe of the Karen National Democratic Party told the CNI.
The National League for Democracy Party. (Reuters)
He said, " Ours is not a political party that contacts unlawful organizations. We are not an alliance of the KNU but we exchange views about the current situation. However, it is a signatory to the NCA. Issues between them have nothing to do with us and we have nothing to do with the PDF. So, we are not worried about the new law."
Political parties that have contacts with EAOs that support the PDF like the KNU are likely to have their registration revoked, Political Observer Dr Aung Myo told the CNI.
He said, "Political parties that have contacts with EAOs that are signatories to the NCA but support the PDF like the KNU, which supports PDG activities in areas controlled by all other brigades except brigade 7, PDFs in Pale, Yinmarbin and Magway and Sagaing regions are likely to be revoked their registrations."
The new law required all political parties in Myanmar to re-register again within 60 days and those who fail to do so will have their registrations revoked.
