New election law bars Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from election

Law bars Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi from election

YANGON, Myanmar — A new election law issued by Myanmar’s ruling military has barred pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from joining a political party and thus running in upcoming elections, state-run newspapers said Wednesday.

The Political Parties Registration Law, published in official newspapers, excludes anyone convicted by a court of law from participating in the elections.

The Nobel laureate, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, was convicted last August of violating the terms of her house arrest by briefly sheltering an American who swam to her lakeside residence.

The law says that political parties have 60 days from Monday, when the law was promulgated, to register with an Election Committee whose members are to be appointed by the junta. The date of the election has yet to be announced.

The law also bars members of religious orders and civil servants from joining political parties.