CNI News

15 Feb 2023

Although the political parties registration law and rules have been announced, the Arakan National Party is still undecided over the types of registration, Chairman U Thar Tun Aung of the ANP told the CNI.

The ANP was registered as a party to contest elections in the entire country but it has failed to meet the requirements under the new political parties registration law, he added.

He said, "The new law implies that all ethnic groups except the Bamar are not allowed to contest elections in the entire country. As a result, we have not decided over the types of registration we will choose so far."

U Thar Tun Hla

He added that his party opened offices in Rakhine State, Paletwa Township in Chin State, Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions but the number of offices still failed to meet the requirements under the new law.

The new law and rules pose difficulties for the Mon Unity Party as the party contested elections in Mon State, Kayin State, Tanintharyi Region and Yangon Region, an official from the party told the CNI in early February.

A political party registered for a particular state or region are not allowed to contest elections in other states or regions, the Union Election Commission told the CNI.

UEC Chairman U Thein Soe signed the political parties registration law.

As the country was under extraordinary circumstances, such new laws and rules should not have been enacted, he added.

He said, "It was not time to enact the law. The entity that enacted the law admitted that the country was under extraordinary circumstances. So, it was not time to enact new laws."

Under the new law, existing political parties are required to re-register within 60 days after the enactment of the law and rules and those who fail to do so will cease to exist spontaneously, the SAC announced on 31st January, 2023.