30th March, 2023
The United States has condemned the Burma military regime-controlled Union Election Commission’s decision to abolish 40 political parties, including the National League for Democracy (NLD).
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in a statement on Thursday said the people voted overwhelmingly to re-elect the NLD and other parties in November 2020 national elections.
“The military regime’s decision to dissolve the political parties shows its continued contempt for the popular will of Burma’s people and multi-party democracy.
“The military’s ongoing efforts to stifle political dissent and eradicate civic space are designed to further entrench its own power and interests.
“This action further demonstrates that the regime’s plans for deeply flawed elections, if held, will not represent the will of Burma’s voters,” he said.
Blinken said the United States called on the military regime to reverse course, end the use of violence against the people in Burma, free those it has unjustly detained, and respect its obligations under international law.
“We remain committed to supporting genuine multiparty democracy, peace, and respect for human rights,” he said.
The Burma’s military government took another major step in its ongoing campaign to cripple its political opponents on Wednesday, dissolving dozens of opposition parties including that of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for failing to meet a registration deadline ahead of elections.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, or NLD, was one of 40 parties ordered dissolved in an official announcement by the election commission published Wednesday in the state-controlled press.
The NLD governed Myanmar with overwhelming majorities in Parliament from 2015 to 2021 before being overthrown by the military.