Myanmar designates constituencies across country for election

The Myanmar Union Election Commission has designated 330 constituencies for people's parliament election across the country in running the forthcoming 2010 multi-party general election scheduled for later this year without specific date set so far.

These constituencies are scattered in townships in Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan and Chin states, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Bago, Magway, Ayeyawaddy, Yangon and Mandalay regions, according to an announcement of the commission carried on Thursdays' official daily New Light of Myanmar.

So far, the commission has granted registration of 40 political parties, new and old, for taking part in the planned election out of 46 applying for the purpose.

In March this year, Myanmar's ruling State Peace Development Council enacted a set of five electoral laws, namely Union Election Commission Law, Political Parties Registration Law, People's Parliament Election Law, Nationalities Parliament Election Law and Region or State Parliamentary Election Law.

As a follow-up, the SPDC formed the U-Thein-Soe-led 17-member Union Election Commission made up of SPDC-deemed esteemed persons to govern the holding of the upcoming general election including registration matters of political parties taking part in the election.

Myanmar government announced a seven-step roadmap in August 2003 which mainly includes the reconvening of national convention, drafting of new state constitution, holding of national referendum on drafted constitution, sponsoring general election and formation of new civilian government.

Source: Xinhua