Tatmadaw: EAOs to blame for lost voting rights in ethnic areas

By Min Tun 03 Nov 2020

Min Tun | DMG
3 November 2020, Sittwe

The military has blamed ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) for Myanmar’s stalled peace process and the loss of voting rights for people in some parts of the country where ethnic minorities predominate.

The Office of the Commander-in-Chief on Monday released two statements pertaining to the November 8 election, one referring to the government and the Union Election Commission (UEC), and the other addressing EAOs.

Militarisation and disturbances by some EAOs had stalled the peace process, which is crucial for democratisation, and ethnic people had been disenfranchised in some areas as a result, the military’s statement asserted.

Elections were cancelled by the UEC across the entirety of 15 townships — nine in Arakan State alone — with dozens of village-tracts and wards in other townships also ruled out for the upcoming vote.

“Voting can’t be held in 15 townships, including four townships in Wa State and Mongla [Township]. Elections could not be held in those places since 2010 because those areas are controlled by the armed groups,” noted political analyst U Maung Maung Soe, referring to the United Wa State Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, respectively.

“And nine townships in Arakan State are experiencing fighting. It is not strange that elections can’t be held while peace has not yet been achieved,” he added.

The UEC announced on October 16 that it would not be possible to hold free and fair elections in nine townships in the north of Arakan State and six townships in Shan State.

“The Arakan Army has said that it welcomes the election. I expect that revolutionary groups would not disturb even if elections were to be held in Arakan State, because they want elections to be held,” said U Khaing Kaung San of the Arakan State Election Monitoring Committee.

The military has designated the AA as a terrorist organisation, and has repeatedly excluded Arakan State from unilateral ceasefires because of the AA’s presence in the area.

“The Tatmadaw has announced a unilateral ceasefire until November 30 for the sake of the election. But it should consider Arakan State and also cease military operations there. Only then will the election be smooth,” said U Khaing Kaung San.

Referring to the cancellation of polls, the military said it was possible that by-elections might take place in the near future in areas where voting will not be held on November 8.

The Tatmadaw warned EAOs that in order for an election to be held in the near future, EAOs needed to avoid taking up positions and moving through areas not part of their territories, and to leave such areas as soon as possible.

It also urged EAOs to allow political parties to campaign in their territories and not to coerce local ethnic people so that free and fair elections can take place.