The junta has prohibited candidates in the upcoming elections, which it will supervise, from organizing marches for security reasons, while allowing them to hold rallies at designated locations.
The junta-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on October 15 that pre-election campaigning will be permitted for 60 days, from October 28 to December 26, ahead of Phase 1 of the elections, which is scheduled to begin on December 28.
The UEC stated that, to align with the principles of a free and fair election, candidates and their political parties will have opportunities to campaign, but must do so in accordance with electoral regulations.
A leader of the Mon Development Party (MDP) said that the junta permits rallies at designated locations such as open fields but has prohibited campaign marches for security reasons.
“Simply put, under the campaigning rules, the UEC allows rallies to be held indoors or in open fields, as long as it’s at a fixed location. But it won’t allow campaigning that involves moving around with party uniforms and flags, citing security concerns,” he told Than Lwin Times.
Recently, some political parties requested the UEC’s permission to hold campaign rallies in religious areas within their key constituencies during a meeting in the capital, Naypyidaw. The UEC has not yet responded to the request, he added.
Under election laws, campaign rallies at locations and times approved by the UEC’s township sub-commissions, as well as media campaigns, are allowed. However, the laws do not specifically mention campaign marches.
To hold rallies, candidates and their parties must provide the relevant township sub-commissions with the names and personal details of the speakers, as well as the topics of their speeches, in advance.
The Mon Unity Party (MUP) told Than Lwin Times that it will announce its rally campaign plans only after the party conference, scheduled to take place in the coming days.
Election rules specify that campaigning must be conducted carefully so as not to disrupt government offices, factories and workshops, workplaces, religious sites, schools, or hospitals. It also emphasized that if campaign rallies are held in halls, open fields, or indoor areas, the number of attendees must be strictly controlled and must not exceed the allowed capacity. The law also prohibits attendees from chanting while traveling to a campaign rally or when leaving after it has concluded.
The MDP leader, speaking to Than Lwin Times, said that party flags and uniforms will be permitted at rally sites only with the approval of the relevant UEC township-level sub-commissions.
“We need to inform the authorities in advance about the time, place, and expected number of attendees for the rally. They’ll provide security on the day. On the day itself, participants should come in regular civilian clothes and can change into their party uniforms at the rally site. If they follow the rules, speeches at the rally will be freely allowed. After the rally, flags and other items must be packed away, and hoisting flags on the road is not allowed,” he said.
The UEC has prohibited rally speeches from including content that could push the nation toward failure, damage the reputation of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military), or undermine national unity. It also bans speeches that incite hatred potentially leading to ethnic or religious conflicts, or that encourage anti-government protests, according to the UEC.
