The eyes of the world are watching Myanmar’s election – in person. More than 10,000 local and international monitors, diplomats and journalists have registered with the Union Election Commission ahead of the November 8 vote, the commission said yesterday.

The UEC said in a statement that 1118 international observers and 9406 domestic observers from 13 organisations had registered, along with 291 individuals from 45 foreign media organisations.

The international observers include more than 450 representing 32 embassies, nearly 450 from six international organisations and about 200 individuals from nine international NGOs that support democratic development and elections.

Meanwhile, the UEC said in a separate statement last night that election commission officials from ASEAN countries will visit Myanmar to observe the vote.

The statement did not reveal how many observers from ASEAN countries would be allowed to monitor the vote.

UEC officials were not reachable for comment yesterday.

The monitoring of this year’s vote contrasts markedly with 2010, when only local embassies were able to send observers to polling stations. Most foreign journalists and monitoring groups were barred, while local groups monitored the poll clandestinely at significant personal risk.