Irrawaddy-June 24
As Myanmar’s military regime prepares to hold an election in December, the groundwork for the vote has been most visible in southern and eastern Shan State, as well as in junta-controlled urban centers within resistance strongholds, including Sagaing, Magwe and Loikaw towns. The military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) enjoys popular support in Shan State, home to 55 townships. The junta’s election body has yet to offer details on constituencies but it appears elections are likely in eastern and southern Shan, the strongholds of the Myanmar military. On June 11, the junta’s Union Election Commission hosted a training session on the use of Myanmar’s Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in Taunggyi, the capital of southern Shan State. Around 70 officials from both southern and northern Shan attended the training. The commission also conducted a mock vote at Taunggyi University of Computer Studies, joined by faculty members and students. Similar events took place at Eastern Command in Taunggyi on June 13, and Triangle Region Command in Kengtung on June 17, with military personnel and their families taking part in mock votes. During his visit to local battalions in Kengtung in May, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing urged his troops to back candidates “who can genuinely work for the benefit of the country”. The comment was interpreted by some as canvassing for the USDP, whose leadership is dominated by ex-military officers. The USDP won a majority in Shan State in the 2015 general election. The National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) jointly won a narrow majority of seats in Shan State in 2020 polls, together edging out the USDP. The USDP has emerged as the strongest contender for the December election, after the regime dissolved pro-democracy parties including the NLD and the SNLD. Read more at:
