24 July
The political party broadcast for the upcoming general elections will be aired by the State-owned TV and radio from 8th September 2020 to 6th November, 2020, as the general elections is designated to be held on 8th November. For this political party broadcast programme, there are some specific rules set out by the Union Election Commission to ensure every political party get an equal and fair advantage for reporting their policies and plans for the development of the country to the voters. The UEC is committed to holding the 2020 general elections in accordance with five standards: freedom of choice, fairness, transparency, accessibility, and compatibility with public desire.
When it comes to the free and fair election, exactly equal time should be given to the political parties in this programme. It means each and every party would get the same amount of time : 15 minutes: on screen and air. According to the rules, the political parties are also obliged to respect and obey the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and to abstain from writing anything which could affect the dignity and character of others. The above rules are not new ones, and they are included in sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) under Chapter 2 of the Political Parties Registration Law, and political parties have also agreed to abide by them at the time of their establishment.
Political parties and candidates have the right to compete in elections without harassment or intimidation at every stage of the general elections.
To be free and fair, not only the political parties but also the media are obliged to avoid disinformation, hate speech and incitement.
While the media is obliged to follow media ethics and the election guide designed by the Myanmar Press Council, political parties are also obliged to conduct election campaigns in accordance with the set rules and regulations and follow the Code of Conduct written by all political parties and Hluttaw representatives. No one should be above the law regarding elections, and enforcement should be tightened to prevent violations of the law. In any democracy, citizens have the fundamental right to free and fair elections, with their votes counted in a transparent and credible manner.
The rules for political parties and the media are designed to help secure the integrity of the democratic process. Holding a free and fair election is a matter of dignity for the country and the people.
