Kantarawaddy Times
Political parties competing in the election organized by the military council or junta have begun widespread election campaigning in Loikaw, according to local residents.
Party members are distributing rice and cooking oil at ward offices as part of their persuading efforts, putting up campaign signboards at intersections, and handing out election pamphlets.
U Khin Maung Win, who is a retired schoolteacher and former administrator of Min Su ward, and who will contest for a seat in Kayah State Parliament (Proportional Representatives – PR), has met with some members of the public to campaign. Photos of him raising party signboards have been shared on the social media platform TikTok.
A Loikaw resident said that many locals now share most city-related information only on TikTok.
“Facebook is difficult to use because of VPNs, and there are also a lot of inspections. That’s why people mainly use TikTok now,” he said.
Since the second week of November, candidates in Loikaw have been appearing publicly and campaigning, but people are not very interested, according to the same resident.
In Loikaw Township’s constituencies, candidates from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the National Unity Party (NUP), the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP), and the Kayah State People’s Party (KySPP), a state-based party, will compete.
Members of the military council’s central advisory board are also among the candidates. U Saw Daniel is running for the KySPP in the Loikaw Township State Parliament (First Past the Post – FPTP) seat, while U Poe Reh Aung Thein, the USDP’s State Chair, will run under the State Parliament with the PR system in the upcoming election.
The military junta’s administration has been pushing for the election by calling on internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled Loikaw due to fighting to return home, renovating famous places to make the city appear lively, inviting artists and singers to perform in Loikaw, reopening Loikaw University, and resuming regular long-distance bus services.
Revolutionary forces, civil society organizations, and youth organizations in Karenni State have issued statements strongly opposing and rejecting the election, which the military junta is promoting as a political solution. Even though the military junta announced plans election in Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, and Bawlakhe townships, residents say that there are still ongoing frequent clashes between revolutionary forces and military junta troops in those areas.
In total, there are 87 candidates who are from four political parties and one independent, and are planning to contest in the military council’s planned election in Karenni State.
