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    16jun10 EMNo27-16-06-10

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    taisamyone
    The document summarizes recent political developments in Burma related to the upcoming election, including: 1) The approval of new applications to form political parties and register as political parties. 2) Plans by two new parties, the UDP and PDP, to launch websites as part of their election campaigns. 3) The inauguration of the office of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party in Namkham township and election campaigns by various parties in different regions. 4) Efforts by the military-backed NUP and USDP parties to recruit candidates in Kachin State amid delays registering other Kachin parties.

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    16jun10 EMNo27-16-06-10

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    taisamyone
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    The document summarizes recent political developments in Burma related to the upcoming election, including: 1) The approval of new applications to form political parties and register as political parties. 2) Plans by two new parties, the UDP and PDP, to launch websites as part of their election campaigns. 3) The inauguration of the office of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party in Namkham township and election campaigns by various parties in different regions. 4) Efforts by the military-backed NUP and USDP parties to recruit candidates in Kachin State amid delays registering other Kachin parties.

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    16Jun10 EMNo27-16-06-10

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    The document summarizes recent political developments in Burma related to the upcoming election, including: 1) The approval of new applications to form political parties and register as political parties. 2) Plans by two new parties, the UDP and PDP, to launch websites as part of their election campaigns. 3) The inauguration of the office of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party in Namkham township and election campaigns by various parties in different regions. 4) Efforts by the military-backed NUP and USDP parties to recruit candidates in Kachin State amid delays registering other Kachin parties.

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    38 views3 pages

    16jun10 EMNo27-16-06-10

    Uploaded by

    taisamyone
    The document summarizes recent political developments in Burma related to the upcoming election, including: 1) The approval of new applications to form political parties and register as political parties. 2) Plans by two new parties, the UDP and PDP, to launch websites as part of their election campaigns. 3) The inauguration of the office of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party in Namkham township and election campaigns by various parties in different regions. 4) Efforts by the military-backed NUP and USDP parties to recruit candidates in Kachin State amid delays registering other Kachin parties.

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    of 3

    Euro-Burma Office 5 to 11 June 2010

    Election Monitor

    ELECTION MONITOR NO. 27


    NEW APPROVED APPLICATIONS TO FORM A POLITICAL PARTY
    The Union Election Commission (UEC) has granted permission to the following to form a political
    party:
    1. The Regional Development Party (Pyay) - 7 June 2010 (Date Approved)1

    NEW APPROVED APPLICATIONS TO REGISTER AS A POLITICAL PARTY


    After a party has been given permission to be established by the UEC, the second step is to officially
    register as a political party, which involves providing full information on the party - membership lists
    per township, etc.
    Of the parties that have been granted permission to register as political parties by the UEC, the
    following parties have submitted their full applications as a second step (a number have already
    been approved by the UEC):
    1. Ethnic National Development Party (ENDP) - 8 June 2010 (Date Applied)2
    2. National Democratic Party for - 4 June 2010 (Date Approved)3
    Development
    3. Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party - 4 June 2010 (Date Approved)3
    4. Union Solidarity and Development Party - 8 June 2010 (Date Approved)2
    To date, 42 parties have submitted applications to form and to continue existence as political
    parties.
    32 of 33 parties that have submitted their applications for the second step of registration as political
    parties have been granted permission to register.
    Those that have yet to be approved to form political parties are still under scrutiny by the UEC.

    NEW POLITICAL PARTIES TO START WEBSITES


    At least two new political parties in Burma will launch a website as a strategic part of their election
    campaign, according to party leaders. Leaders of the Union Democratic Party (UDP) and the Peace
    and Diversity Party (PDP) said that they will seek approval from the authorities to launch their
    websites. To receive permission to publish material, a political party must pay 600,000 Kyat (US
    $600) to the Scrutiny and Registration Division. To have a website will be important for a political
    party during the election campaign, said Nay Myo Wai, the PDP Secretary. During the 1990
    elections, campaigning mainly relied on pamphlets, posters and political gatherings and thus the
    introduction of party websites will become a new addition to the Burmese political landscape. Phyo
    Min Thein, the Chairman of the UDP, said that he planned to seek technical assistance from friends
    and supporters outside of Burma to help set up his partys website. According to the 1962 Printing
    and Publishing Act, a registered political party can publish election-related materials such as

    1
    Application for formation, registration scrutinized, passed - http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-08.pdf (NLM) 8 June
    2010
    2
    Applications for registration as political party scrutinized, passed - http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-09.pdf (NLM) 9
    June 2010
    3
    Applications for registration as political party scrutinized, passed - http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-05.pdf (NLM) 5
    June 2010

    1
    Euro-Burma Office 5 to 11 June 2010
    Election Monitor

    pamphlets, journals and booklets without the approval of the Press Censorship Division. The law
    requires that a political party must not oppose the ruling State Peace and Development Council or
    criticize the armed forces, and it must comply with existing laws. 4

    SHAN NATIONALITIES DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFFICE INAUGURATED IN NAMKHAM


    The opening ceremony to inaugurate the office of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP)
    was held in Namkham township, Shan State (North) on 9 June. The SNDP office situated in Pauk-lay
    ward in Namkham was attended by party Chairman Sai Ai Pao, SNDP members and invited guests.
    The party has designated U Sai Cho Oo as Chairman and U Sai Saing Wun as Vice-Chairman of
    Namkham Township respectively. Election campaigns had been on-going prior to opening of the
    SNDP party offices in Namkham. The SNDP plans to contest in 39 out of 55 townships in Shan State;
    2 in Sagaing Division; 6 townships in Kachin State; 3 in Kayah (Karenni) State as well as in Rangoon
    and Mandalay Divisions.5

    NUP AND USDP SEEK CANDIDATES IN KACHIN STATE


    The junta-backed National Unity Party (NUP) and Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)
    have heightened their election campaigns in Kachin state, according to local residents. With the aim
    of gaining the support of locals, NUP and USDP members are now targeting and urging prominent
    local community leaders from the Shan and Kachin communities in Myitkyina to join and run as
    candidates for the two parties. Many of the Kachin community leaders initially had plans to contest
    the polls as candidates of the Kachin parties in order to promote the interest of the Kachin people.
    However, due to the delay in the registration process by the Election Commission of the Kachin
    parties, many of their members have become unhappy and disillusioned and some have even signed
    on to junta-backed parties as an alternative option to take part in the elections. Although no
    concrete explanation has been given with regards to the registration of the three Kachin national
    parties, many observers believe it to be linked to the transformation of the (KIO) into a Border Guard
    Force. The delay has thus far proved to benefit the NUP and USDP in the Kachin state.6

    UEC MEMBER EXPLAINS ELECTORAL PROCESS IN MONYWA


    On 2 June, UEC member Dr Maung Htoo gave a briefing session on electoral work at the hall of
    Monywa University of Economics. Dr Maung Htoo also donated cash assistance for the development
    and upgrading of libraries in Zalot (West) Monywa, Kyaukka, Sitar, Yekansu and Kanma villages.7

    COURSE ON ELECTORAL WORK CONVENED IN SINGU TOWNSHIP, MANDALAY DIVISION


    Singu Township Election Sub-commission convened an Electoral Course for sub-commission officials
    at the meeting hall of Township General Administration Department on the morning of 4 June.
    Member of Mandalay Division Election Sub-commission U Ye Aung Myint and member of Pyin-Oo-
    Lwin District Election Sub-commission U Maung Ko delivered opening addresses. After the opening
    address, members of Township Election Sub-commission Daw Tin Tin Nu and Daw Nwe gave
    briefings on matters related to electoral works to members of Ward and Village Election Sub-
    commissions.8

    4
    New political parties to start websites - http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18653 (Irrawaddy) 8 June 2010
    5
    Shan nationalities democratic party office inaugurated in Namkham - http://www.mongloi.org/burmese/2008-08-01-03-22-02/85-2008-
    08-01-03-14-40/900-2010-06-09-10-28-01 (Mongloi) 9 June 2010
    6
    NUP and USDP seeks candidates in Kachin state - http://www.khitpyaing.org/index.php?route=detail&id=2202 (New Era Journal) 9 June
    2010
    7
    UEC member explains electoral process in Monywa - http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-06.pdf (NLM) 6 June 2010
    8
    Multiplier course on electoral work opened in Singu township - http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs09/NLM2010-06-10.pdf (NLM) 10 June
    2010

    2
    Euro-Burma Office 5 to 11 June 2010
    Election Monitor

    ANALYSIS
    The initiative by the Union Democratic Party (UDP) and the Peace and Diversity Party (PDP) to launch
    party websites is a positive sign in Burmas election landscape. The aim to provide voters and the
    international community with party policies and election campaign strategies by the two parties will
    encourage others to follow suit and enable voters to access information readily and easily, and thus
    provide them with a choice. The process of launching party websites will not be easy and will
    naturally be administered under tight and restrictive measures. The parties will be obliged to adhere
    to the 1962 Printing and Publishing Act. Furthermore, financial implications will also need to be
    taken into consideration if they are serious in launching party websites when some parties are
    already confronted with the daunting task of providing support for their would-be candidates.
    With the number of registered parties reaching 33 and applications to form parties remaining at 42
    during the past week, focus has now turned to the issue of registering list of members as required by
    Announcement No.64/2010 dated 28 June 2010. Those unable to provide the list of members within
    the prescribed 90 days will run the risk of having their registration cancelled and the party being
    abolished. Such restrictions will no doubt cause many parties difficulties and the likelihood that
    some parties may fall victim under the present circumstances. Such stringent and restrictive
    measures implemented by the UEC are clear signs of the strategies used by the SPDC in its step-by-
    step approach to dismantle the opposition ahead of the polls. Based on the approach taken by the
    election watchdog, the next likely direction for the UEC will most probably be to focus on scrutinizing
    the nominated candidates and their financial resources.

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