Opposition Parties Disbanded
Myanmar’s military government has dissolved the country’s former ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and 39 other parties. The move comes as these parties have failed to register for an upcoming election. State-run Myawaddy TV announced that these 40 parties are automatically disbanded due to their failure to register for the polls.
Military’s Power Struggle
The military has been fighting ethnic minority armies and facing a resistance movement against its rule, which it imposed through a coup in February this year. The election date has not been announced yet, but the military junta has promised to hold fresh polls after toppling the NLD-led government elected in November 2020.
Opposition Weakened
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), a party known to be backed by the military junta, is set to gain more seats in the upcoming election. This is because the NLD party, once Burma’s most popular political force headed up by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been weakened by both the coup and crackdown on protesters.
NLD Not Registering
A senior NLD official stated that his party would not have registered for the polls anyway as many of its members are currently in jail or “involved in the revolution.” The shadow National Unity Government (NUG) states that the military has no authority to hold an election and called it a sham.
Danger of Violence Escalation
Experts warn that legitimizing military control through an election is dangerous for Myanmar as most of its people fiercely oppose this idea. Violence could escalate if they try to impose a vote. This would lead to further chaos and instability.
Japan and Australia’s Concerns
Japan and Australia have expressed their concern over the dissolution of the NLD party and other opposition groups. They have said that Myanmar urgently needs a more inclusive process towards democracy. Both countries are concerned about the political space in Myanmar being narrowed with tough election registration requirements, which could lead to further violence and instability.
Japan Urges Myanmar to Release Suu Kyi
Japan has urged Myanmar to release jailed NLD officials, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who is serving a 33-year sentence for multiple counts of corruption among other crimes. Japan has emphasized that Myanmar needs to show a path towards peaceful resolution that includes all concerned parties.
Australia Calls for Restoration of Democracy
Australia has also expressed serious concern about the situation in Myanmar and called for the restoration of democracy in the country, including credible elections. The Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, issued a statement saying that their exclusion from participating in democratic processes could lead to further instability and suffering for the people of Myanmar.
Election Commission Dissolves NLD Party
In another development, Myanmar’s military-controlled election commission has dissolved the NLD Party for failing to re-register under a new electoral law. The military had given political parties two months to re-register under a strict new electoral law ahead of fresh polls it has promised to hold. The NLD was among 40 political parties that did not meet this registration deadline.
In conclusion, the dissolution of opposition parties in Myanmar raises serious concerns about the country’s future. The military junta’s power struggle threatens to escalate violence within the country. International voices have stressed on the importance of restoring democracy through credible elections and freeing jailed NLD officials, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The international community must work together towards finding a peaceful solution to end the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.
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