Govt spox predicts full elections in just 5 of 17 Arakan State townships

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 05 Sep 2020

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG
5 September, Sittwe 

Government spokesperson U Zaw Htay has estimated that Myanmar’s 2020 general election will only be fully held in five of Arakan State’s 17 townships. 

The remarks from the director-general of the State Counsellor’s Office, which reflect persistent security concerns in Arakan State as the November 8 election approaches, were made during a press conference in Nay Pyi Taw on September 4.   

The military recently warned the Union Election Commission (UEC) of a “deteriorating security situation” in some Arakan State townships. But the Tatmadaw has noted that the power to decide where elections will and will not be held is vested in the UEC, a fact that U Zaw Htay also emphasised on Friday.  

Still, the government spokesperson ventured to guess that only five of the 17 townships in Arakan State would be voting in full later this year. He explained that in the other 12 townships, it might be possible only to hold elections in certain areas, such as the townships’ urban centres. 

“The election is unlikely to take place in rural areas where hostilities between the military and Arakan Army are ongoing,” he said. 

U Myint Naing, a member of the UEC, acknowledged at a press conference last week that the election likely would not take place in some conflict-affected parts of Arakan State. 

U Oo Tun Win, an Arakan State lawmaker, said cancelled elections would be a blow to representative democracy. 

“I think the role of representation is vital to a society facing difficulties, problems and challenges on a daily basis, to a certain extent. There are many human rights violations in Arakan State. Arakanese people will lose a chance to express their grievances,” said the MP. 

The UEC has previously said it plans to open about 2,600 polling stations in Arakan State. There are more than 1.6 million eligible voters in Arakan State.