The State Administration Council enacted a new political parties’ registration law on January 26. The Political Parties Registration Law (The State Peace and Development Council Law No. 2/2010) was repealed. The parties existing under the Political Parties Registration Law (The State Peace and Development Council Law No 2/2010) which are desirous to continue as political parties under this Law shall apply to the Commission within 60 days from the date of promulgation of this Law. If no such application is made, the fact of being a political party shall be deemed to have been automatically invalidated.

There must be a group of at least 15 persons who desire to organize and form a political party, and they must attain 25 years of age, it said. The person must not be a member of an insurgent organization against the State or not a member of an individual or an organization designated by the State as committing terror acts, or not a member of an organization declared as an unlawful association under any existing law or not a member contacting or abetting with such members of an organization directly or indirectly.

If the party will carry out organizational activities across the entire Union, the party shall have a party fund amounting to K100 million, or if the party will carry out organizational activities only within the region or state, the party shall have a party fund amounting to K10 million, and the said respective amount of fund shall be paid in at a Myanma Economic Bank and submit the acknowledgement receipt.

If the party will carry out organizational activities across the entire Union, the personal undertaking that the party offices will be opened in at least half of the townships across the entire Union within 180 days after granting of registration as a political party or if the party will carry out the organizational activities only within the region or state, the personal undertaking that at least five party offices will be opened within 180 days after granting of registration as a political party, it stated.

If the party will carry out organizational activities across the entire Union, the personal undertaking that at least 100,000 party members will be mobilized within 90 days after granting of registration as a political party or if the party will carry out organizational activities only within the region or state, the personal undertaking that at least 1,000 party members will be mobilized within 90 days after granting of registration as a political party.

The following organizations shall not be granted registration as political parties: -

(a) An organization declared as an unlawful association or terrorist organization under any existing law;

(b) An insurgent organization or an organization and individuals that have been designated as those who are committing terrorist acts or those which have been declared unlawful associations under any existing law or those who are in contact with the said organizations or providing support to them either directly or indirectly;

(c) An organization that is using directly or indirectly the State-owned funds, buildings, vehicles and materials

(d) An organization that is seeking and using money, materials and other aids from a foreign government or foreign religious association or any organization or any individual either directly or indirectly or the organization under the influence of the said organizations and individuals;

(e) An organization that is misusing religion for political purposes.

A party shall submit to the Commission that it has organized the minimum number of party members within the prescribed days. After doing so if the number of members of the said party has decreased below the stipulated number, it shall have to take measures to meet the stipulation within 90 days. If it is unable to do so, the Commission shall cancel the registration of such party from being a political party and also dissolve the party.