Myanmar rejects 9-country joint statement on election

Myanmar's Foreign Ministry has rejected a "joint statement" of nine countries on the country's upcoming general election, criticizing that the issuance of such statement at this juncture goes against the peaceful environment the Myanmar people have established for a successful holding of the election.

The embassies of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Norway, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a joint statement on Myanmar's election in Yangon on Monday, saying they are "concerned about the prospect of religion being used as a tool of division and conflict during the campaign season."

The foreign ministry expressed concern that the nine-country joint statement could bring about unwarranted, negative impact on the efforts being made by Myanmar especially when the election process is progressing smoothly, effectively and efficiently in a peaceful and positive environment.

"The Union Election Commission has established the mechanism to address the concern, large or small, that may arise in the election process in accordance with the existing laws, rules and regulations in a just and non-discriminatory manner," the ministry said in a statement.

"At a time when Myanmar is in the process of holding nationwide election and undergoing a campaign period focusing on prevalence of law and order and peace and stability, the joint statement prejudges the situation and has potential to create misunderstanding and doubt based on ethnicity and religion," the ministry said.

Myanmar's general election is set for Nov. 8 and will be run by 92 political parties and over 300 independent candidates. Enditem