Hsu / Myo Gyi (NP News) – May 9 

Union Election Commission (UEC) notified that the UEC is proceeding to grant permissions for the political parties that informed to meet with foreign bodies and figures in suitable ways. 

The UEC announced that those political parties that have plans to meet with foreign bodies and figures have to inform the UEC in advance in accordance with the Constitution and Political Parties Registration Laws and bylaws.  

The UEC said it is proceeding to grant permissions in suitable ways upon the submissions by the political parties to meet with the foreign bodies and figures. 

Due to the abovementioned instruction made by the UEC, there were such experiences that the political parties missed some of the arrangements to meet with international organizations and diplomats, Chairman of the Arakan Front Party, Dr. Aye Maung said. 

According to Dr. Aye Maung, the Arakan Front Party’s Chairman was offered to meet with the Director-General of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in person in April. However, the meeting did not happen due to the lack of approval from the UEC.   

“I think prohibiting the acceptance of foreign assistance and foreign financial assistance from foreign bodies and personnel is logical and enough. It is already legally prohibited under the enacted laws. It is also something which is necessary and so we agree to abide by that law. However, just have a look at the Political Parties Registration Law. The question is “Does the UEC have such mandate enacted in the Law to give permission on these occasions? In other words, does the UEC have such legal power on it? Only if the law permits this mandate to the UEC, can the UEC make such decision. If not, I would say it is just beyond the acting laws," Dr. Aye Maung said. 

The Chairman of Arakan Front Party urged to review over the mandate of the UEC with regard to the UEC approval for the political parties to meet with foreign bodies and figures.