NAYPYITAW, 19 August 2021, (TON): The junta’s Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced plans to audit the financial records of Myanmar’s political parties, a move that has been met with fierce criticism.

The UEC, which officially annulled the results of last year’s election in July, has ordered parties to prepare their financial records for inspection, in what some suspect will be used as a pretext by the junta to disband certain parties.

The commission has not yet set a date for the audit.

Sai Leik, general secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, questioned why the UEC would audit finances after officially annulling the election.

He said “asking for a list of election expenses for each candidate is a pointless act.”

Tha Tun Hla, chairperson of the Arakan National Party (ANP), said that some would find the UEC's directive difficult to follow because of travel restrictions.

He said “the political parties that prepared well have no problem. But the parties that are not ready to prepare the documents will have to travel.”

He added "the junta may intend to use the powers enshrined in the Political Parties Act, such as the right to dissolve political parties if they cannot submit their financial statements.”

Parties that fail to comply with certain sections of the Political Parties Registration Law can be suspended for 30 years or permanently dissolved.