Myanmar's speaker calls for active voter participation

Myanmar's Parliament Speaker U Shwe Mann on Tuesday called for active participation in the upcoming general elections set for November 8, asking voters to vote with responsibility and awareness.

Emphasising on the importance of stability and tranquility, rule of law and socio-security of the country, he called for balanced and correct exercise of the state sovereignty in terms of legislative, executive and judiciary power, Xinhua news agency reported.

Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi also stressed peaceful holding of the elections in a free and fair manner, calling for implementation of people's will as reflected in the elections.

The success of the 2015 general elections would gauge how far the country's democratic reform reaches and how much is the essence to be obtained, said Suu Kyi, who is chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD).

In his message on the occasion of the International Democracy Day, President U Thein Sein said the Myanmar government will make all efforts to ensure that the 2015 general elections will be free and fair.

U Thein Sein, however, warned against disruption to harmony among communities and wide diversity of beliefs during poll campaigning.