YANGON — Myanmar's election body has confirmed the abolition of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party along with nine others ahead of November elections, state media reported Tuesday.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy is one of five parties forcibly dissolved after failing to apply to continue their activities, state media announced, quoting the Union Election Commission.
It was the first time state media has announced the NLD's dissolution, although it has been previously confirmed by officials after the party decided to boycott the upcoming election, saying the rules were unfair.
The other parties abolished for failing to reregister are the Union Pao National Organization, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy Party, the Shan State Kokang Democratic Party, and the Wa National Development Party.
State media said five more political parties -- out of 42 which were initially allowed to register to run in the November 7 poll -- were abolished because they failed to meet requirements on registering candidates.
The election has been widely condemned by activists and the West as a charade aimed at putting a civilian face on military rule.
Nobel Peace Laureate Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 20 years in detention, and as a serving prisoner is barred from standing in the upcoming vote, which will be the military-ruled country's first in 20 years.
The NLD won a landslide victory in 1990 but the junta never allowed it to take office.
Opposition parties have faced formidable hurdles, including a fee of 500 dollars per candidate -- the equivalent of several months' wages for most people -- and a tight timetable to register to stand.
The National Democracy Force, a breakaway opposition party created by former NLD members, is among those planning to contest the vote, a decision which put it at odds with Suu Kyi, who was in favour of the NLD boycotting the vote.
The election commission also announced parties would be allowed 15 minutes of radio or air time each to campaign, but must apply one week in advance.
Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hDfrf7frNkI-WwMcurtrHzyOAHpQ
Comments
Post a Comment