Free and fair?

Opposition says no
By Ei Ei Toe Lwin | Friday, 25 July 2014
Political parties say a new directive issued by the Union Election Commission
that will place tight restrictions on campaigning means next years election is
unlikely to be free or fair, as tension grows between opposition forces and the
military-backed establishment over the countrys political future.
A young National
League for Democracy supporter attends a party rally in Pakokku on July 12. (Aung Htay Hlaing/The Myanmar Times)
Some political leaders say they are even considering boycotting the election unless changes
are made to the directive, which was issued on July 1, and have accused the establishment
of attempting to move the goalposts to reduce the chances of a National League for
Democracy landslide in 2015.
They are also upset that feedback from political parties on a draft version of the directive
distributed in May was seemingly ignored by the commission.
The commission has no right to issue a directive like this one. They have a mandate only
to supervise the election, said U Nyan Win, a spokesperson for the NLD.
Directive 1/2014 sets 30 days for campaigning and requires candidates to seek permission
from the township election commission office before holding any campaign events. The
proposed list of speakers, as well as the location and number of participants need to be
vetted before an event by both the commission and the regional government, while
candidates must also seek permission if they want to buy advertisements. Permission must
be sought at least 15 days in advance.
U Sai Nyunt Lwin, secretary of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, said the new
directive made him hesitant to contest the election. The commissions code of conduct is
not fair and square, he said, adding that he believed the rules were designed to benefit
the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
Many also perceive the rules as an effort to rein in the NLD, and in particular the role of
popular party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
On April 7, commission chief U Tin Aye reportedly told election commission members and
political parties in Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region, that candidates in the 2015 general election
would not be allowed to campaign outside their own constituencies. While U Tin Aye denied
making the comments and promised to allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to campaign freely
around the country, the rules give the commission discretion to stop anybody from
speaking at a campaign event.