Special law likely to emerge to protect upcoming election
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Htet Nadi/Pearl (NP News) - July 7
Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), said that a special law to protect the upcoming election is likely to be enacted.
Dr. Aye Maung predicts that the State Administration Council (SAC) will transfer its responsibilities to the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) on July 31.
Furthermore, it is also anticipated that both in the SAC government and NDSC, security measures will be taken to ensure that everyone can participate in a free, fair, and secure election without coercion.
“If we look at the election, it is not the SAC that will be responsible for holding it. The SAC’s responsibility will probably be completed on July 31. A government led by NDSC will likely emerge on August 1. It will hold the election. So, the SAC may be able to issue the election law. Similarly, a special law that can protect the election may emerge,” said Dr. Aye Maung.
Dr. Aye Maung also predicted that the special law that may emerge could include provisions that will provide security protection to elected parliamentary candidates, political party members, and relevant officials, including the public who will come to vote.
“Just as there is a special law to protect the National Assembly, there should also be a special law to safeguard major elections. Such a law would protect voters from intimidation, physical harm, and even psychological attacks, including disinformation or fake news spread through social media, as I mentioned earlier. If we are to enact this law, the main purpose will be the public. In order to successfully hold elections and ensure that people can freely cast their votes, it is necessary to prohibit any acts that threaten or intimidate voters, cause them mental or physical harm, or harass them directly or through social media. Such prohibitions could also include measures specifying what can and cannot be done, and they would cover the security of political parties, elected parliamentary representatives, and relevant officials. These protections would apply not only on election day itself but also to advance voting and absentee voting,” Dr. Aye Maung told The Statesman Journal. –