UEC Chairman U Hla Thein meets Norwegian Ambassador

Union Election Commission/ Office 22, Nay Pyi Taw / November 14, 2018

November 13, Nay Pyi Taw

Union Election Commission (UEC) Chairman U Hla Thein met Norway’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Mrs. Tone Tinnes, in the guest room of the Union Election Commission in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

At the meeting, the UEC Chairman said the present commission was established in 2016, and conducted by-elections in 2017 and 2018 successfully.

He spoke about cooperation from the government’s departments, international support organisations, and civil societies in making the election work programs a success, and invited domestic and foreign election observer groups to ensure poll transparency. He spoke on improving the participation of women in the Hluttaw and at all levels of the election commission. He said the commission is working to ensure the general election in 2020 is free, fair, transparent, and credible, so that the election results are in keeping with the people’s wishes. The commission will work in the pre-election, election, and post-election periods to ensure this, he said.

There is a requirement to increase voter education and civic education, he said. There is also a need to raise awareness among young voters who will turn 18 in 2020, he added. The Norwegian Ambassador spoke about Norway’s help to Myanmar for carrying out democratic reforms, and the 2015 General Election and the 2017 by-election. She also talked about sending election observer groups for the 2018 by-election and help for the 2020 General Election. The ambassador and UEC chairman also discussed other poll-related matters at the meeting.