All international observers welcomed to Myanmar election: UEC

Tin Aye, chairman of UEC, said at a press conference that UEC welcomed all international observers to ensure it is conducting a free and fair election.

“We do not have any limit on the number of international observers…But the places where they can go will largely depend on the guarantee of the security forces. Although UEC allows them to go anywhere, we always remind them they should visit only places guaranteed of safety to ensure they are 100 per cent safe,” Tin Aye said.

The November 8 election is considered a milestone in Myanmar’s political scene, following decades of military ruling. Local and international communities have been all eyes to the event. So far, UEC has signed the memorandum of understanding with European Union and the US’s Carter Foundation, and Bangkok-based Asean Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) for the election monitoring process. The commission will also sign a similar MoU with the Netherland’s Gender Concerns International within a few weeks.

“We have received the names of 10 observers from the Carter Centre. The EU will send a big team. I understand all the organisations will dispatch their observers here about one month before the election,” said Tin Aye.

He also reiterated that the election would be held on November 8 as planned, but at some conflict and flood-hit areas, it may be postponed.

He added that the preparation is more than 50 per cent complete.

“One of the important things to do at this stage of time is the printing of ballots. They can’t be printed yet as the official list of the candidates is not yet announced,” he said.

According to the UEC, the number of the candidates for Lower House, Upper House, and Region/State Parliaments has doubled from the 2010 election. A total of 6,189 candidates are registered for the 2015 election and 88 have so far been disqualified including four national races ministers.

Tin Aye affirmed that the election would be free and fair.

“We are making a history… I can give a 100 per cent guarantee that the upcoming election will be free and fair. Our policies and guidelines are set accordingly, but a lot depends on the enforcement by officers on the ground. If they do not follow our rules and regulations, severe actions will be taken against them,” he said, adding that UEC will carry out all the processes in accordance with the existing laws.

The EU Electorial Support Team, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) have helped the agency to improve voter education through voter training and distribution of booklets and awareness-raising videos. The IFES in particular helped draw up a strategic plan which is based on international standards but incorporating Myanmar’s current conditions.

“We discussed our cooperation and they devised the plans to support us. Indeed, they made us realise what we wanted to do… We still need to learn a lot from each other,” Tin Aye said.