B U R M A U P D A T E

18 O c tobe r 2010

ELECTIONS DEMONSTRATION IN NAY PYI TAW

While performing the demonstration of the voting process for the benefit of foreign diplomats and
newsmen in Nay Pyi Taw here this morning, Chairman of Union Election Commission (UEC) U
Thein Soe declared that Myanmar would not accept foreign technical expertise and observ-
ers in holding the elections saying that “we have ample experience in this regard.”

Regarding the foreigner journalists to cover the November 7 elections, U Thein Soe said: “Since
we have journalists representing foreign agencies, it is not necessary to invite foreigner jour-
nalists from abroad. And Union Election Commission has no authorities to do so.”

When asked detained democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has the right to vote, U Thein Soe
replied that since she is under detention (meaning not a prisoner), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has the
right to vote and it is according to the Law.

Regarding the international criticism whether the forthcoming elections would be a credible one, U
Thein Soe said: “We are going to hold the election for our country, not for other countries. The po-
litical parties inside our country will contest in our elections. Our people will vote in the elections
and it will count in front of all. We are doing with the laws and regulations. So let the people of My-
anmar decide whether it is credible elections or not.”

Foreign diplomats and newsmen were given a demonstration of the way an eligible voter got to
vote in November 7 general elections for three parliaments and ethnic constituencies.

This demonstration of voting process was performed by Chairman of the UEC, U Thein Soe and its
members at a makeshift polling station inside the compound of the Union Election Commission Of-
fice in Nay Pyi Taw this morning.

Eligible voters are to cast their ballot papers for three parliaments namely Pyithu Hluttaw ( House
of Representatives) with 330 seats available, Amyotha Hluttaw ( House of Nationalities ) with 168

Political Defiance Committee (PDC) email: people@graceinpeace.com

 B U R M A U P D A T E
18 O c tobe r 2010

seats available and Region/State Hluttaws and Ethnic Constituencies in separate enclosures for
each parliament after having been checked about their eligibility to exercise their franchise.

After the elections, the Pyithu

Hluttaw will be made up of 440
members as 25 per cent of its
seats will be filled by non-elected
military personnel. Likewise, the
Amyotha Hluttaw will be made up
of 224 members with 25 per cent
of its seats handed out to the
military personnel as prescribed
by the 2008 State Constitution.

While supervising the demonstra-

tion of voting process, U Thein
Soe, who was Judge-Advocate
General of the military with the
rank of Major General, assured
that the forthcoming general
elections would be free and fair.

In declaring as such, U Thein

Soe said altogether 3071 can-
didates representing 37 politi-
cal parties plus 82 independ-
ents would be contesting in
1158 constituencies.

He also gave the number of eli-

gible voters as more than 29
million throughout the country.

As for the number of polling

stations, U Thein Soe said, it
will be about 40,000 throughout
the country.

“Union Election Commission will

announce the results of the
elections as soon as possible
after counting,” U Thein Soe
revealed without elaborating
how soon.

Political Defiance Committee (PDC) email: people@graceinpeace.com

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