ANFREL executive director Chandanie Watawala shared the ANFREL interim statement on the election observation findings with Nepal Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya. ANFREL member National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) also shared the findings of their election observation mission to the 2022 Nepali Federal and Provincial Elections. ANFREL's interim statement can be
Ten Asian journalists have been selected to take part in an intensive program on reporting elections, human rights and democracy under a media fellowship program hosted by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL). The ANFREL Asian Media Fellowship on Election Reporting, through the generous support of the Mission of Canada to
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed election observation teams in Nepal to observe the 2022 House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies Elections. Some 275 House of Representative seats and 550 members of provincial assemblies were contested. Here are some photos from our election observation teams on the ground:
In the third quarter of 2022, the Asian Network for Free Elections released observation report on Philippine and Nepali elections, launched the Asian Media Fellowship on Election Reporting, and engaged with various electoral stakeholders. ANFREL released the final comprehensive report of its international election observation mission to the 2022 national and local
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is looking for a Program Officer to implement its Capacity Building projects and activities. The Program Officer will preferably be based in Bangkok, Thailand, but will be coordinating with ANFREL’s network organizations and traveling across the Asian region. Formed in 1997, ANFREL was organized as
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) media fellowship program is back and we’re expanding the program to include journalists from all over Asia. ANFREL is offering a series of intensive training sessions on reporting elections, democracy, and human rights as well as mentorship and financial support for innovative and impactful election-related
ANFREL Executive Director Chandanie Watawala spoke to 39 international relations students from the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta on Friday, 26 August 2022, about today's challenges to democracy in Asia.
In order for the Philippines to achieve its democratic aspirations, the festering systemic challenges of rampant vote buying, rule of political dynasties, and the widespread disinformation should be addressed, according to panelists of a forum that tackled pathways to strengthen democracy in the country. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) hosted
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is hosting a panel discussion on strengthening democracy in the Philippines on 18 August 2022, Thursday, at 10 a.m. (Manila time) ANFREL invited representatives from domestic election observer groups to share their insights about the recently concluded May 2022 national and local elections in the
Transparency Maldives, one of the signatories in this joint statement, is a member of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL). 25 July 2022: The undersigned 10 organizations call on the government of Maldives to repeal or amend the deeply problematic provision in the Evidence Act (Act No. 11/2022) that compels journalists
Ousted State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi denied electoral fraud charges against her at a closed trial inside the junta prison in Naypyitaw. The charges were filed under Article 130(a) of the Penal Code, accusing her of influencing the Union Election Commission (UEC) ahead of the November 2020 general election. Ousted president
The 2022 Timor-Leste Presidential Election was "free, transparent, fair and reliable observing international standards of election", said the Observatory of the Church for Social Affairs (OIPAS) in final report of their election observation effort. OIPAS, under the National Commission of Justice, Peace, and Integrity Criation (JPIC-TL), observed the presidential election (19 March
In the second quarter of 2022, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) observed elections in Timor-Leste and the Philippines, released reports on elections in Hong Kong and Cambodia, and continue to shed light on the situation in highly restrictive and repressive countries in Asia. ANFREL released the final comprehensive report about
Press ReleaseKathmandu, Nepal4 July 2022 The Election Commission, Nepal (ECN) and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-host the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF 6). The MoU, signed by ECN Joint Secretary Mr. Shaligram Sharma Paudel and ANFREL Executive Director Mrs. Chandanie
Ousted President U Win Myint, ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and former Union Minister U Min Thu pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 130(a) of Myanmar’s penal code for allegedly influencing the Union Election Commission (UEC) in connection with the November 2022 general election. A crime management meeting
A junta-controlled court sentenced former Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, second vice president and spokesperson of National League for Democracy (NLD), to 21 years in prison for five corruption charges. The ASEAN Special Envoy will not be allowed to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi on his second visit
A junta court in Myanmar ruled that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Australian economist Sean Turnell and three former cabinet members to continue the trial on charges of violating the Official Secrets Law. In the coming weeks, the court will hear the defense arguments, including a
Myanmar junta-led courts rejected appeals by a deposed lawmaker and a prominent former activist to their death sentences on “terrorism” charges since last year’s coup. There are at least 115 people who have been sentenced to death in Myanmar since the coup. The executions typically take place within 45 days of a
Myanmar junta filed two more corruption charges against detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi while the junta court rejected her appeal against a five-year sentence for corruption handed down in April. The Myanmar military regime so far has filed 20 charges against Aung San Suu Kyi, including 13 corruption charges that
May 12, 2022 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.The White HouseWashington, DC Re: Thailand’s abusive draft law on not-for-profit organizations Dear President Biden, We, the undersigned non-profit organizations, are writing to express our serious concerns regarding Thailand’s Draft Act on the Operations of Not-for-Profit Organizations, which the Thai Cabinet approved in principle on
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) congratulates the people of the Philippines for their mass participation in the 2022 National and Local Elections, domestic election observer groups including PPCRV, LENTE, and NAMFREL, media and civil society organizations for their contributions to an inclusive and transparent election landscape, as well as the
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is holding a press conference on Wednesday, 11 May 2022 at 9 a.m. (Manila time) to release the initial findings of its observation of the elections in the Philippines. The Philippines held national and local elections on 9 May 2022. ANFREL deployed teams of international
More than 65.7 million registered voters in the Philippines are invited to cast their vote for the national and local elections on 9 May 2022. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed election observation teams across the country to monitor the electoral process. Here are some photos that ANFREL observers have
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) published its pre-election assessment report of the 2022 Cambodia commune and sangkat council elections on 6 May 2022. Cambodia will hold its fifth commune and sangkat council elections on 5 June 2022. About 9.2 million registered voters are expected to elect the chief and councilors among over
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) will hold a joint press conference with the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists this Friday, 6 May 2022, about the human rights and democracy situation in Cambodia ahead of the Commune and Sangkat Council Elections. Cambodia
A Myanmar junta court convicted the former state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi for corruption and sentenced her to five years in prison. The European Union condemned the sentencing as “politically motivated” and “another step to dismantle the rule of law”. Aung San Suu Kyi had been sentenced to six years in
Myanmar military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing offered to meet with leaders of ethnic armed groups in person. He said through a brief broadcast from state-owned television that “2022 is the year of peace and that we will work for an end to all armed conflict”. The offer was not extended to
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) launched today, 23 April 2022, its international election observation mission to the 2022 Philippine national and local elections with the deployment of six long-term observers and two electoral analysts. An additional four observers are expected to join the mission next week. ANFREL observers will be
The Myanmar military junta granted amnesty to 1,619 prisoners, including 42 foreigners, and announced their release to mark Myanmar's new year. It is unclear if political prisoners were included. According to media reports, no political protesters had been released so far from Insein Prison in Yangon. There was also no information about
The National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG) said it has successfully completed 1,128 attacks on military junta targets in Yangon over the past seven months. Since NUG declared its war against the military junta, it attacked 443 administrative and 587 military targets and 98 military-owned businesses, killing 253 and injuring nearly 300.