MYANMAR JUNTA’S PLANNED ELECTIONS: FALLING SHORT OF DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY Registered parties can be dissolved by the UEC for many reasons, including the use of any state property directly or indirectly and, for Union-level parties, failure to field candidates in at least one-fourth of all constituencies nationwide15. In July 2025, a second amendment to the political parties registration law added a provision so that the UEC can dismiss any party against whom it finds evidence of voter fraud or illegal practices. The UEC’s decisions to reject or revoke a party’s registration cannot be appealed. The law also bars anyone who is a member of, or in contact with, “insurgent”, “terrorist”, or “unlawful” organizations, which include the National Unity Government (NUG) and most other opposition groups, from establishing or joining a political party. This contradicts the junta’s token olive branch extended towards these groups in September 2024 to put down their weapons and participate in the elections, which was universally rejected. The junta’s political party registration law places disproportionate barriers on freedom of association, enables collective punishment, and denies the right to appeal. It provides opportunities to weaponize the law against political dissidents at any time before or after an election. Applicable international standards: 15 42 • Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 20(1): “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” • Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others. Limits to freedom of association must be necessary and proportionate in measure. Initially half of all constituencies, lowered on 21 September 2025 by National Defense and Security Council Law No. 3/2025