Despite the SPDC’s repeated pledges for “free and fair” elections, the junta’s legal framework for the polls, including five laws issued in March and Directive 2/2010 issued in June, is repressive and undemocratic.

The Election Commission Law empowers the SPDC to handpick the Election Commission, which presides over all aspects of the electoral process. Led by a former military judge, it is authorized to cancel elections in some areas.

The Political Parties Registration Law effectively bans political prisoners (leaders of NLD, ethnic nationality parties and 88-Generation Students) from membership of political parties.

The Assembly laws reiterate the ban on political prisoners, members of religious orders, and civil servants from standing for election, either as members of political parties or as independent candidates. The laws also ban members of religious orders and those serving prison sentences from voting.

Directive 2/2010 imposes severe restrictions on political parties’ activities, including gatherings held at their own headquarters or branches.