Guest Comments by the Burma Partnership Secretariat

OUTSIDE BURMA -- On June 21, the Burmese military regime's handpicked Union Election Commission issued a directive that bans marching, holding flags and chanting at political parties’ campaign rallies.

Parties wishing to hold a public event or speech must seek approval from a local sub-commission at least a week in advance. Speeches and publications must not criticize the Union of Myanmar, the constitution or the armed forces, disrupt security and peace or provoke discussion of racial or religious affairs or individuals. The directive threatens action against anyone failing to obey.

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) criticizes the directive as a violation of human rights. “The ruling side tries to use this regulation to prevent people, political parties and candidates from expressing their agendas. They don't want people to know the political agendas of other parties,” said ANFREL media officer Bidhayak Das.

This is the military regime's latest unjust restriction on political parties to make it impossible to campaign freely. But there's no reprimand when the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) offers bribes for votes from residents of Puta-O Township in Northern Kachin State.

Outright favoritism of pro-junta parties in the election laws has led the National League for Democracy and other ethnic parties to refuse to participate. More examples of unfair electioneering, like adding villagers to USDP members lists without their knowledge, issuing identification cards to the Rohingya in exchange for their votes for the USDP and the Election Commission's ongoing failure to approve the Kachin State Progressive Party, show these elections as neither free nor fair.

Burma's elections give no chance for democratic progress. International groups and governments should denounce them as an undemocratic charade intended to secure military control behind a civilian face.

ARCHIVES