Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The Burmese Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Tuesday that 20 candidates have been disqualified and barred from standing for election after they failed to file their required election expenses within the stipulated time.
Eight candidates from the National Unity Party, four from the National Democratic Force (NDF), one independent candidate and seven other candidates were barred from contesting in the current term and in the next term of Parliament, according to an UEC announcement in the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper.All candidates were required to submit their election expenses within 60 days from the date the election results were announced.
Disqualified candidates can remain as party members, said NDF party information chief Toe Toe.
‘This is their electoral laws, and we have our own party rules’, he said. ‘These candidates will remain as our party members as long as they do not breach our party rules and constitution’.
According to the electoral laws, a candidate was required to deposit 500,000 kyat (US$ 570) with the UEC, and he was allowed to spend a maximum of 10 million kyat (US$ 11,400) on his campaign.
Retired Lieutenant General Tin Aye is the chair of the six-member UEC, which was reformed on February 25 by the new Parliament.
