The Union Election Commission (Burmese: ပြည်ထောင်စု ရွေးကောက်ပွဲ ကော်မရှင်, abbreviated UEC) is the national level electoral commission of Myanmar (Burma), responsible for organising and overseeing elections in Burma, as well as vetting parliamentary candidates and political parties.[1]
History
The Union Election Commission is mandated by the Union Election Commission Law, enacted on 8 March 2010.[2] The UEC's first chairman was Thein Soe, a former major-general, an appointment that was derided by media.[3] On 18 February 2011, Tin Aye, a former lieutenant-general and member of the State Peace and Development Council, was appointed by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, to replace Thein Soe.[4] The UEC was criticised by various advocacy groups and the United Nations for its lack of independence and impartiality for its handling of the 2012 Myanmar by-elections.[5] The UN has also noted the UEC's failure to follow up on electoral complaints, including voting procedures.[6]
On the eve of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, the military deemed the results of the 2020 Myanmar general election fraudulent, citing voting irregularities.[8] On 28 January, the UEC rejected the military's allegations, unable to substantiate their claims, sparking fears of an impending coup.[8] On 1 February, the military staged a coup, deposing the civilian-elected government. During the coup, Hla Thein was arrested by military authorities.[9] Two days later, the military junta appointed new members to the UEC, including Thein Soe, UEC's inaugural chair and a former military officer.[10] In July 2022, Hla Thein and two UEC members were sentenced to prison for violating section 130(a) of the Myanmar Penal Code.[11]
Members
The UEC's members are appointed by the government, and must meet the following qualifications:[12]
50 years of age or older
a good public reputation, as determined by the government
The UEC has been criticised for its powers to abolish elections in conflict areas.[17]
References
^ ab"Election Commission". Mizzima Election 2010. Mizzima. Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
^"Situation of human rights in Myanmar"(PDF). Report of the Secretary-General. United Nations General Assembly. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
^Shwe Yinn Mar Oo (21 February 2011). "Former MP to lead commission". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
^"Situation of human rights in Myanmar". Sixty-sixth session Third Committee: United Nations General Assembly. 28 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)