July 9, 2024
The junta’s Election Commission has rejected the registration applications of the Kachin National Congress Party (KNC) and the Democracy and Human Rights Party (DHRP), state-controlled media reported today, July 9.
The KNC and DHRP were found to be non-compliant with Articles 5 and 6 of the Political Parties Registration Law, according to the Election Commission. Article 5 requires detailed submission of party policies, objectives, symbols, and organizational structure. Article 6 mandates the adherence to the 2008 Constitution, the preservation of national unity, and the prohibition of speeches or campaigns that incite racial or religious conflicts.
Dr. Aung Kwan Lah, chairman of the Kachin National Congress Party, was arrested in August 2021 for criticizing Chinese investments on social media following the military coup. He was sentenced to two years in prison under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for political offenses.
The Democracy and Human Rights Party, also known as the Rohingya Party, was founded in 1989 by Kyaw Min and other Rohingya activists. It won four seats in the 1990 elections but was dissolved in 1991. The party was re-registered in 2013 and sought to re-register again recently.
Both the KNC and DHRP were registered political parties in the 2015 general elections. Recently, the Union Election Commission under the junta also denied registration to four other political parties, including the Arakan National Party, bringing the total number of political parties denied registration to six.
The junta’s decision to reject these parties’ registrations further limits political diversity and inclusiveness ahead of the proposed 2025 elections, raising concerns about the legitimacy and fairness of the upcoming electoral process.
