Myanmar president pledges to work for free, fair election
Xinhua, September 2, 2015 Adjust font size:
Myanmar President U Thein Sein on Wednesday pledged to work for a free and fair general election, and maintain political stability during the transition from the pre-election period to the post-election period.
In his regular monthly radio message to the nation, U Thein Sein called on political parties to pay special attention to and abide by the framework and rules laid down by the Union Election Commission.
He also urged the parties not to make instigative speeches that may damage national reconciliation and consolidation of the people during their election campaigns.
Myanmar's upcoming 2015 general election, which the president underlines as a very important step in the country's democratic transition, has been set for Nov. 8, and the election campaigning is to run through next Tuesday (Sept. 8) to Nov. 6.
The Myanmar president reiterated his invitation for prompt signing of the almost-finalized nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA) with ethnic armed groups, saying that the government would make its utmost to promote the peace process during its tenure.
He stressed the need to start political dialogue as soon as the NCA is signed.
In the latest round of peace talks in Yangon between the government's Union Peace Making Work Committee and the Senior Delegation of the ethnic armed groups, which ended on Aug. 6, the two sides were able to agree on the draft NCA, except the invitation of all other armed groups to take part in the signing of the peace deal. Endi