Union Election Commission responds to open letter by 26 political parties

IT was reported that Union Election Commission Responded to open letter by 26 political parties today.

In the response, it was mentioned that last paragraph 10 paragraph open letter made following request.

“With reference to the paragraph mention above, we would like to have a transparent face to face meeting with sufficient amount of time at your convenience. This we would like to request with this open letter”.

After the examination of the open letter by the commission, it was found that request for the meeting was unnatural and the request were based on impractical false accusations.

For example, In the third paragraph of open letter, it said “the performance of the current Election commission is ineffective and found to be heading towards the opposite direction”.

They, however, fail to mention which specific performance. This harms the dignity of the commission as it attacks all the performances of the commissions in general.

In 5th paragraph, “the commission giving instruction to political parties as if they the parties were departments reporting them means oppression and unlawful action.”

Here too the open letter is found to be unspecific.

According to Union Election commission law, political parties Registration Law and rule passed, the commission can monitor the performances of the political parties is its right and responsibility. This evidence-less accusation belittle the duty and responsibility of the commission and confuse the public.

With reference to forming of sub commission in 2017 and dispute over the final decision during Interim Election period, the performance of the commission has been discussed in detail on December 8th 2017 at the meeting between Union Election Commission and spoke person of Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) Dr. Nander Hal Myint and at the meeting between the commission and political parties on June 14 2018.

The accusation that the commission’s final decision concerning the Interim Election is unfair and unreasonable in 5th paragraph of the open letter is wrong .

There were only two objection to that.

By the time open letter came out on May 23rd 2019, The commission had not made any decision about the objections . Only on May 30th 2019 decision regarding one of two objections was made. Concerning suggestion mention in, they are always free to suggest at Election Commission at any time.

If this is to be the case, the commission will meet with political parties including 26 parties mentioned in the open letter and take necessary action.

Of all 26 parties 7 were elected parties of 2015 General Election. 98 parties has been registered at Union Election Commission. 78 parties are left with exclusion of 26 parties with the request. Of 78 parties 15 are elected.

Union Election Commission respect the opinions of all political parties. The Commissions has meetings with all, some or individual parties at every opportunity.

The commission vows to have fair and transparent elections according to law.

In accordance the vow, the Commission will have meeting with regional and state election commissions, political parties and other related organizations for implementation of work progression concerning Election from June 2019.

The schedule has been drawn up for the meeting between the commission and the political parties to have successful 2020 General Election.

So, Union Election Commission will meet political parties according to schedule. This was decided at Union Election Committee meeting (19/2019) on June 5th 2019.

MNA

(Translated by Alphonsus)

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar