Kantarawaddy Times
Public support for the military junta’s planned election in Karenni State remains low, while support for the revolutionary movement is still as high as 90 percent, according to U Thae Reh, Chair of the Karenni State Democratic Party (KSDP) and a former MP (Member of Parliament) who won a seat in the 2020 election.
“If we talk about how much public support there is for the current revolution, I guess it is at least 90 percent. But, there may still be people living under the control of the military junta who are unable to actively participate in the revolution. Those people may end up voting or participating in the administrations formed by the junta due to pressure and intimidation,” U Thae Reh said.
The KSDP released the announcement on December 4 that the election planned by the military junta will neither be fair nor genuine, but rather it is intentionally designed to legitimize their grip on power and gain international recognition.
Naw Sar Lay, a Central Committee member of the Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNOW), also said that an election organized by the military junta, which is destroying people’s lives and homes on a daily basis, cannot represent the will of the people.
“They may threaten people in many ways, such as saying they will confiscate homes or farmland if they do not vote, using various forms of intimidation. Situations like this, where people are forced to vote, could occur. That is why the election held by the military junta cannot produce a government that represents our people. A junta that is expanding violence on a daily basis can never become a government that represents the public,” Naw Sar Lay said.
Revolutionary forces have also stated that the strong opposition to the military junta’s election to be held under the 2008 Constitution lacks legitimacy and fairness.
U Thae Reh further pointed out that for an election to be truly fair, there must be rule of law; an independent election commission; full voting rights for voters; equal opportunities for candidates and political parties; free access to information through independent media; an absence of violence; accurate and transparent vote counting; and respect for human rights and internationally recognized freedoms.
The military junta is set to hold Phase One of its election on December 28, which will include Loikaw and Bawlakhe townships in Karenni State. Phase Two will include Demoso and Hpruso townships.
