Myanmar forms more border guard forces ahead of election (2)

The 2008 new state constitution prescribes that all the armed forces in the union shall be under the command of the Defense Services.

Meanwhile, the government urged ethnic peace groups in the country to adhere to the provisions of the approved new state constitution in the light of upcoming general election this year, the date of which has not been set yet.

"The national race armed groups will have to reconsider formation of their political parties if they wish to work for their regional development within the framework of the constitution," official media quoted government officials as urging.

There also remains 10 legal political parties in Myanmar since the 1990 general election. However, these political parties are required to re-register again with the government-appointed Union Election Commission under some new restrictions for contesting in this year's new election, the first since the 1990's.

The new restrictions have forced the National League for Democracy (NLD) to abandon re-registration for taking part in the coming election, however facing dissolution of the party according the election laws which stipulate that former political parties failing to re-register themselves within 60 days to join election will stand invalid.

Among the 10 former legal political parties, the National Unity Party (NUP) has applied for re-registration along with some six newly-formed ones and how many of them will get granted remain to be monitored.

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