9 | THE JUNTA’S POLITICAL PARTY REGISTRATION LAW: ENSURING OBEDIENCE • Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum II, Dili Indicators of Democratic Elections, items II(b)(1): “Requirements for political party and candidate registration are reasonable and clear.” and II(b)(2): “Regulations for political party and candidate registration are non-discriminatory.” • Inter-Parliamentary Union, Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections, Articles 3(2): “Everyone has the right to join, or together with others to establish, a political party or organization for the purpose of competing in an election.” and 3(8): “Every individual or political party whose candidature, party or campaign rights are denied or restricted shall be entitled to appeal to a jurisdiction competent to review such decisions and to correct errors promptly and effectively.” For more: • Human Rights Watch, “Myanmar: Political Parties Law Shackles Opposition”, 14 February 2023, https://www.hrw.org/ news/2023/02/14/myanmar-political-parties-law-shacklesopposition • Reuters, “Myanmar junta urges armed opposition to join political fold in elections”, 26 September 2024, https://www.reuters.com/ world/asia-pacific/myanmar-junta-urges-armed-opposition-joinpolitical-fold-elections-2024-09-26/ • Stimson Center, “Challenges and Perspectives of Political Parties on Democracy and Elections in Myanmar”, 26 March 2024, https://www.stimson.org/2024/challenges-andperspectives-of-political-parties-on-democracy-electionsmyanmar/ 43