29 May 2012 — The Union Election Commission met with chairmen and secretaries of some political parties at its meeting hall here this morning and made it clear to them the prevailing situations over protests against power blackout and disputes between employers and employees and called on them to deal with the situations in cooperation in accordance with the laws. The meeting was also attended by Chairman of UEC U Tin Aye and commission members, deputy ministers from the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Electric Power No. 2, officials, chairpersons and secretaries from invited political parties.

In his address, the UEC Chairman said that the aim of the meeting is to explain the prevailing situations over protests against electricity outage and disputes between the employers and employees, as some political parties have been involved in the incidents.

In view of the organizational set-up rules, policy and attitudes of political parties, it is found that each and every party is committed to serving the interest of the State and the people. In serving the interest of the State and the people, priority should be given to what ought to be or what can be, realizing the prevailing situations. Only then, will pragmatic results be possible. In this context, priority could not be given to what can be rather than what to be, and instead to what ought to be to the most possible degree. In doing so, the political parties need to study and adhere to acts, laws, rules and regulations prescribed by the State.

In the Section 404 (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, it is stated that a political party is to be loyal to the State; in the Section 405 (b), it shall respect the Constitution and the existing laws. Moreover, when applying for registration as a political party, the political party had already pledged to abide by provisions included in the Section-6 of the Political Parties Registration Laws.

Also, if a party member is in breach of the provisions included in the Section-6, he or she is no longer entitled to be as a party member. Therefore, the party member shall be expelled from the party in accordance with the Section 12 (a) (6). Even if he is not expelled from the party, it can be detrimental to his right to stand as a party member under the Section 12 (b).

Nowadays, protests are rife over power blackout in some areas and disputes occur between employers and employees at some factories and mills. It is learnt that some political parties were involved in the incidents. This being so, the prevailing situations over the incidents are to be discussed in details by those responsible from the relevant ministries. The UEC would like to stress the need for political parties to do their utmost in dealing with the incidents to the most possible degree in cooperation with departments concerned, realizing the prevailing situations.

The hasty handling of what can still be possible could beget adverse effects on both the State and the handlers, even leading to unrest that can harm peace and stability of the State. There can be shortcomings and disadvantage in the country that is still in the process of transition to democracy. At a time when economic sanctions are being lifted and cooperation of the international community is all the more, it is to be serious about unrest that undermine the national development. Therefore, in serving the interest of the State and the people, it is necessary to take into account all the factors including provisions of the laws and prevailing situations and coordinate with the government bodies in accordance with the laws. Next, the Deputy Labour Minister reported on settlements of his ministry over disputes between employers and employees in accordance with laws, rules and regulations and the Deputy Electric Power No. 2 Minister on power generation and power distribution, shortage of power supply in summer, current power blackout due to the blowing up of national power grid and steps being take to resume normal power supply. Afterwards, chairmen and secretaries of political parties participated in the discussions, saying that they are to cooperate with the departments concerned in accordance with the laws to deal with the current incidents as they came to realize the prevailing situations.

In his conclusion, the UEC Chairman called on those from the political parties to do their best in the handling of current protests and disputes in cooperation with the departments concerned putting in the fore the national interest rather than their own for peace and stability and national development.