CNI News
9 July 2022
Despite the announcement to hold elections in 2023, the State Administration Council has still failed to explain how it would guarantee the elections, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of Arakan Front Party told the CNI.
He said the SAC and the Union Election Commission (UEC) should lay out their plans for the elections, which are required to be acceptable for all, to the public instead of just saying they will hold elections.
“It would not go far enough for the SAC just to announce the elections in 2023. It should lay out its guarantees and plans for the 2023 elections, which are required to be acceptable for all, to political parties and the public during the interim period. U Ko Ko Gyi often pointed out that what happened in the 2020 election and what will happen in the 2023 elections should be disclosed during the interim period between now and the elections. The public should be able to cast their votes in physical and mental safety. It is also necessary to establish the rule of law. I think the government still needs to take measures to enable the public to cast their votes independently. It may be necessary to lay out their guarantees for the 2023 elections to the public,” Dr Aye Maung said.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing casts votes in the 2020 general election.
National League for Democracy (NLD) issued a statement on 9 July, saying the Tatmadaw declared results of the 2020 elections null and void by staging a coup and again trying to hold upcoming elections in an attempt to deceive the public and the international community.
The statement also said that the NLD will never recognize the elections held by the SAC.
However, General Secretary (2) Khun Tun Shwe PaO Nationals Organization told the CNI that the country will be on the path for stability if elections can be held.
Protests against Tatmadaw.
“If all agree that political issues must be solved through political means, elections are a political means. Only when elections are held and a government and a legislature can be elected, will the country be a stable one. If elections are not held and destabilization persists for a long time, the country will suffer. National races will lose confidence gradually. There are many consequences as you journalists know,” he said.
The Tatmadaw ousted the NLD government declaring a state of emergency after accusing the NLD of forming a new government without settling the disputes of invalid voters’ lists in the 2020 general election.
The SAC chairman has promised to hold elections in 2023 and hand over the state power to the winning party.
