Military won’t guarantee security for make-up elections in Arakan: govt spox

By Min Tun 09 Jan 2021

Min Tun | DMG
9 January 2021, Sittwe 

The Tatmadaw has not given security guarantees for prospective make-up elections in Arakan State constituencies where voting was cancelled on November 8, according to U Zaw Htay, a spokesman for the President’s Office. 

“I saw similar announcements,” he said at a press conference in Nay Pyi Taw on January 8, referring to reports that the military was pushing for make-up elections as soon as possible. “We asked both the President’s Office and the UEC [Union Election Commission] whether the Tatmadaw had provided security assurances. Until now, we have not received any guarantee from the Tatmadaw. The UEC is not guaranteed security in these areas.” 

U Zaw Htay added that the issue of voting for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State needed to be taken into account in the conduct of elections. 

On January 7, the Tatmadaw True News Information Team called for the relevant organisations to arrange for elections to be held as soon as possible in the nine Arakan State townships that held no voting in November, as well as Mongkaing Township in Shan State. 

The Arakan Army (AA) has also called for make-up elections in the Arakan State constituencies that were skipped over last year.  

Daw Khin Saw Wai, the Lower House lawmaker for Rathedaung Township, said she did not expect the hoped-for elections to take place prior to the sitting of the third session of parliament, which is scheduled to convene on February 1. 

“The government and the UEC are the organisations most responsible for holding the voting, despite the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army having issued statements calling for elections,” the MP added. “Therefore, the government and the UEC can do it [hold elections], or not. Now comes the time for the parliamentary session to begin, so I don’t expect the elections.” 

Legal experts and political analysts have said make-up elections could be held before the third parliamentary term begins. 

However, the UEC has not yet commented on the potential conduct of rebooted elections in the cancelled Arakan State constituencies. 

Balloting was cancelled in the entireties of nine townships: Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Myebon. The elections were partially canceled in four other townships, amounting to four village-tracts in the state capital Sittwe, two wards and 49 village-tracts in Kyaukphyu, three wards and 25 village-tracts in Ann, and 10 wards and 52 village-tracts in Taungup.