In its latest gag order for party members contesting the November elections, the National League for Democracy has warned would-be parliamentarians to stay away from anyone who could fall under the Unlawful Associations Act. The ban on talking to members of the media also remains in place.

The largest opposition party began rolling out censorship provisions in July when it warned candidate hopefuls to stay off all social media. In August, the party ordered candidates to refrain from talking to the media and participating in public debates.

At the end of last month, the party clarified that just six people would be able to speak on behalf of the party, while canvassing candidates were asked to remain mum. The latest order specifies a one-month timeframe for the ban, but the appointed party spokespersons were unable to explain why the order covered only part of the campaigning period.

The party’s gag orders have been criticised for hampering democratic free speech. But U Win Htein, a senior executive member of the NLD, brushed off these complaints, saying they were not a concern for the NLD.

“The party is just focused on winning a majority in the election,” he said.

“Our party needs to be very cautious in this campaign period,” he added. “We won’t let any candidates make mistakes during the campaign period, which is a very sensitive time. That’s why we have issued such instructions.”

Asked how candidates could possibly campaign with such a gag order in place, U Win Htein said they can still canvass in their constituencies with the party’s campaigning team.

The ban appears not to extend to party chair and opposition icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has led rallies around the country and speaks regularly on radio broadcasts.

U Win Htein said the party order was mainly targeted at candidates in minority group areas, who might come into contact with armed ethnic groups, which remain unlawful associations until they sign the nationwide ceasefire.

The UEC has already rejected two NLD candidates in Kachin State for alleged links to armed ethnic groups.

“We worry for candidates living in ethnic areas. If the party’s candidates do something wrong, the Union Election Commission could deny the election results by accusing them of having connections with unlawful associations,” he said.