Mandalay political parties urged to gather members in prescribed period: UEC

Union Election Commission Chairman U Thein Soe called on political parties in Mandalay Region to become strong parties that can carry out regional and national interests while meeting chairpersons of six political parties from the region, district and township offices at former Hluttaw office, Mandalay yesterday.
The UEC Chair highlighted the amendment to the Registration of Political Parties Law on 26 January and the related bylaws on 31 January this year, the requirement to gather at least 100,000 members within 90 days if a party plans to organize nationwide as well as at least 1,000 members for parties if they aim to operate within a region or state, the establishment of the minimum number of offices as mentioned in the law within 180 days, and the disallowance of continuing as a political party unless it meets requirements.
He also elaborated on preparations underway to hold a free and fair multiparty democratic general election, securement of accurate voter lists to prevent electoral fraud, employment of advanced IT technologies including CVLMS (Central Voter List Management System) software by obtaining technical and professional assistance of experts from computer universities under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the development of the Myanmar Electronic Voting Machine (MEVM) with the help of experts from Myanmar, and the current involvement of ministries’ employees and residents of the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory in practical tests to vote.
Afterwards, UEC Member and in charge of Mandalay Region U Than Aung Kyaw said that the list of party members submitted by the six political parties in Mandalay Region is verified according to the law. Mandalay Region’s Minister for Social Affairs, officials from the General Administration Department and the Election Sub-commission also explained the actions taken to correct the list of party members. The UEC Chairman gave feedback to the discussions of the officials before concluding the meeting with a closing remark. — MNA/TH