MUP criticize new electoral law: Now only able to only run at State/Division level in upcoming election

February 15, 2023

HURFOM: Members of the Mon Unity Party’s central executive committee recently criticized the January 26th military’s electoral law changes. Members view the changes as an abuse and restriction on political parties which they believe, violates the human rights of ethnic peoples.

“All the ethnic political parties have to reduce their status from “Union Level” to “State/Division Level”. (The new electoral law) has banned the rights of the ethnic people. This is a huge human rights violation,” said one CEC member.

A former CEC /MUP member noted that the new electoral law blocks or reduces the number of the ethnic lawmakers in the Union Parliament, which is the highest legislative power in the country.

“They (the military council and the election commission) have intentionally planned to reduce the numbers of ethnic lawmakers and to silence the voice of ethnic people in the Union Parliament,” said the former CEC/MUP member.

The new law requires that a Union-level political party must have at least 100,000 members and be able to operate their offices in at least 160 townships. Further, the party must have a fund of 100 million Kyat.

Due to these new criteria, the MUP is unable to operate the party at the union level so they have no alternative but to run only at the State/Division level.

On February 11, 2023, the MUP called a CEC meeting at their headquarter in Mawlamyine and decided to close their offices in Yangon, Pegu and Tenasserim Divisions and register the party in Mon and Karen States.

“At the union level, there are the USDP, the NLD and the National Unity Party. Due to the current situation, the NLD won’t compete in the election. They (the military council and the election commission) called an election only after setting up a plan that will ensure the USDP will win the election. It is impossible to beat them in the election,” said the former CEC member of the MUP.

The new electoral law also forces all political parties to apply for a new registration within 60 days of January 26th, the day the law was approved. Parties that fail to do so are automatically abolished .

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News