The Mon Unity Party (MUP) has yet to receive official registration from the Union Election Commission (UEC) of the military junta, despite having applied over a year ago, according to party leaders.
When contacted about the registration delay, UEC officials stated that the application is still under review, without providing reasons for the prolonged process, said MUP spokesperson Naing Than Shwe.
“It’s been more than a year since we submitted our registration, and it’s still not approved. We don’t know the exact status. The commission has been reviewing it for a year now, and we’re not sure why it’s taking so long. We stopped asking after multiple inquiries showed the same response,” said Naing Than Shwe.
The military junta’s UEC issued new political party registration laws on January 31, 2023, requiring parties to register within 60 days. Many parties, including several ethnic political groups, complied.
While the UEC has approved some party registrations, it has also rejected applications from significant ethnic parties like the Arakan National Party (ANP) and the Kachin National Congress (KNC), leading to criticism of its decisions.
Colonel Khun Okker of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) criticized the junta for its narrow-minded approach, pushing political groups away rather than engaging them.
“In a true democracy, elections and political parties are essential. However, by targeting specific ethnic groups and denying registration, the junta isolates them. This approach undermines unity and fuels ethnic tensions,” he said.
Despite the lack of registration, the MUP continues its operations as usual, according to Naing Than Shwe. The junta plans to conduct a nationwide census in October and hold general elections in 2025.
