Myanmar releases details on union election commission law

YANGON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar official media Tuesday released the details of the Union Election Commission Law, one of the five laws relating to the forthcoming general election enacted by the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Monday.

According to the law, the SPDC is to form the Union Election Commission with at least five members to work for holding of the first parliamentary election and govern political parties including the registration matters of the parties taking part in the election.

The members of the commission shall be deemed by the SPDC as famous and prominent persons who are royal to the state and the people but must be non-political-party members, the law states.

The law empowers the commission to issue election-related orders, regulations and directives to govern the election.

The commission shall be effective until a new commission is formed by the newly-elected president, it said.

Of the five election-related laws promulgated on Monday, the other four are Political Parties Registration Law, Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) Election Law, Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities) Election Law and Region or State Parliament Election Law.

Details of the four remaining laws will be released in the following days, according to earlier official report.

The Myanmar government announced a seven-step roadmap in August 2003 which mainly include the reconvening of national convention, drafting of new state constitution, holding of national referendum on drafted constitution, sponsoring general election and formation of new civilian government.

In line with the roadmap, Myanmar resumed holding of the constitutional national convention in January 1993, restarting the constitution drafting process.

A national referendum in May 2008 approved the new state constitution, according to which a general election is planned for this year.

Source: Xinhua News