A retired preacher Pu San cung, who is a prominent personality, is not being permitted to contest the forthcoming 2010 election from the Chin Progressive party (CPP) in Falam township, Chin state western Burma by the Election Commission (EC).

“We nominated Pu San cung by majority voting in our party as a candidate for the State Parliament, but the EC has stopped him from contesting in the second week of August. The Commission has pointed out that he cannot get involved in politics as he is a retired Christian preacher,” said Pu Na Thang, Vice President of CPP.

The party, perforce had to make a new selection in Pu Na Thang to contest for a seat in the State Parliament as the Commission pointed out that the electoral law prohibits religious persona from contesting the election.

The electoral law bans people, who are serving a jail term, suffering from abnormality, the poor, foreigners, government servants and those getting support from other countries, organization or religious bodies from contesting the polls.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has already made arrangements to use retired prominent government people, to contest the elections.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has also prohibited Pu Thankim, retired Christian preacher from contesting the election from the National Unity Party (NUP) in Falam Township for the State Parliament.

“We don’t understand why he was stopped by the Election Commission as he is a prominent and reputed person. He is a much admired retired Christian preacher,” said a member of the party.

He added that most of the people in Chin state are Christians and they will give their whole hearted support if religious persons like preachers and pastors are involved in politics and contest the election. They are worried that the EC is rejecting preachers or persons with a Christian religious background.