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Roundup: Myanmar election campaigning begins

Xinhua, September 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Political parties in Myanmar began campaigning Tuesday starting with areas in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Magway for the upcoming general election set for Nov. 8.

Under the arrangement of Union Election Commission (UEC), three political parties were first to broadcast through the state- operated Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) their party policies, political stance and objectives in the election.

The three parties are U San Tha Aung-led Mro National Development Party (MEDP), U Han Shwe-led National Unity Party (NUP) and U Yaw That-led Lahu National Development Party (LNDP).

The 15-minute radio and TV campaigning is allowed twice for each political party on rotational basis until Nov. 6, two days before the planned election kicks off.

Meanwhile, the Union Daily, run by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (UNDP), resumed publication on Tuesday nearly one month after it stopped distribution following a major party leadership transfer on Aug. 13, in which the party was reformed with a 53-member central executive committee, retaining U Thein Sein as the original chairman and replaced U Shwe Mann, who had acted as the party chairman during U Thein Sein's assumption of presidency, with U Htay Oo, the vice chairman.

Also on Tuesday, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi described, in her message for the launch of election campaign, the upcoming general election as a crucial turning point of the country.

Suu Kyi, who is chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD), said the people of Myanmar will have a real chance of bringing about a real political change, adding that people can not afford to let it slip away.

She expressed hope that the election be free and fair and the result of the election be respected by all parties concerned, stressing the importance of a smooth and tranquil transition through the election.

According to the preliminary figures of the UEC, a total of 6, 189 qualified candidates will run the upcoming Nov. 8 general election nationwide in Myanmar.

The 6,189 candidates include 5,866 nominated from 92 political parties and 323 independents.

The commission designated Nov. 8 as the date for holding the 2015 general election nationwide which is to produce representatives to the next parliament which will take effect from the end of January next year.

The presidential run will be on the heels of the parliamentary election by next February, while the present term of the government will end next March. Endi