Irrawaddy-Sept 15
Fear and distrust are spreading in Myamar as the junta’s election looms amid signs that it will mean yet more harassment, surveillance, and oppression of ordinary citizens. The junta has announced that it will hold phased elections on Dec. 28 and in January. In late July, the regime imposed new election laws that include harsh penalties for opposing the polls, which have been widely denounced as a sham designed to entrench military rule. They already claimed their first victim when a current affairs blogger in Taunggyi, southern Shan State, was sentenced to seven years in jail for allegedly criticizing the election. Two others are reportedly being prosecuted. The regime also expanded the use of the Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS), a digital surveillance tool developed with Chinese technical support, to monitor and arrest people who oppose their rule. The new Election Security Law authorizes surveillance of domestic and international organizations during the election period, intelligence gathering, and prosecution. It is being implemented by the heavyweight Central Committee for Security Oversight. To ordinary Myanmar citizens, that means keeping their heads down. A 58-year-old woman from Yangon’s Thaketa Township said she avoids posting anything about the election or even reacting to anti-election posts on social media for fear of being targeted. But she added, “I won’t vote because I hate the junta.” On the other hand, she worries that the regime might force people to cast their ballots. If that happens, she said, she would claim health reasons to avoid going to the polling station. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-citizens-fear-more-harassment-violence-as-election-nears.html
