13 Aug

Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin discussed with heads of Myanmar missions in foreign countries about advance voting of nationals abroad on 11 August. The meeting was also participated by Permanent Secretary U Soe Han from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General U Aung Soe Win from the Planning and Administrative Department, Deputy Director-General U Ye Yint Lwin from the Union Election Commission and the ambassadors, permanent representatives, consuls- general and chargé d’affaires from a total of 45 missions abroad.

At the meeting, the Union Minister shared the message of the President to ensure free and fair elections, not to lose voting rights, preparedness for advance voting and assistance of relevant ministries for voting of Myanmar nationals abroad at the 2020 General Election; the need of tripartite coordination among the UEC, MoFA and Myanmar missions abroad to avoid any mismanagements for the elections under restrictions and suspensions of international flights amid COVID-19. He also quoted in saying the section 47 (b) of Hluttaw Election Law, that ‘the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take the responsibility of communicating with those who are outside the country and who have the right to vote so as to enable them to vote in advance’. The Union Minister advised all the mission heads to thoroughly study directives for advance voting process at their offices, preparations for healthcare measures and reviewing experiences from the previous elections.

He also discussed topics related to extension of 5 August deadline for the voters to fill Form (15), sending back Form 3 of the voters to the MoFA by 17 August through Myanmar missions, carrying advance voting ballot papers to the missions and the secrete vote papers back to the MoFA, adhering to rules of guidelines on COVID-19 control measures of host countries and hotlines for enquiries to the UEC. Officials from MoFA and the Deputy Director-General of UEC replied to the discussions and questions of participants.

MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)