On 12 October, the Union Election Commission (UEC) announced the constituencies where election could not be held.
They are the village tracts in some townships of Kachin State, Karen State, Rakhine State, Shan State, Mon State, and Bago Region.
This sharing is about the interviews to seek the views of local ethnic parties regarding to the UEC’s announced constituencies where election could not be held.
U Saw Khu Talay, Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP), Deemawso Township Pyithu Hluttaw candidate
We have many townships and village tracts where the UEC has announced that the election will not be held. It is more common in the major states, but only a few in divisions. So, if we look from other side, it is acceptable that the situation in the region is not stable because of the war, but on the other hand, the role of ethnic groups will be greatly weakened in 2020. So I do not like it very much. We know that some of the information we get from outside does not need to be done that much.Not all townships, but there are some areas where there is a real war occurring whereas elections are possible in some areas depending on the situation. This is based on information obtained from outsiders. What I would like to ask bravely is that, on the one hand, whether they are reducing the role of the ethnic parties and reducing the role of the ethnic nationalities so that the ethnic nationalities do not get more seats in the Hluttaw. I would like to point out it. This is very detrimental to our ethnic nationalities, and it is the way to weaken the ethnic nationalities in order to get place in parliament.
Kayan National Party (KNP) State Hluttaw candidate Khun Myint Naing from Constituency No. 2, Deemawso Township
I want to say I’m sorry, and I want to say I’m worried about it. The reason that I would like to say sorry is because people in ethnic areas are preparing for the election. So, it is because of the security reason or I am not sure why they do it. I am really sorry for the representatives of the ethnic nationalities who are trying to contest in the election as the election there is not going to happen anymore. I would like to say it should not be. Another concern is that such restrictions will lead to more unnecessary tensions. So we are worried that there will be more instability and tension in Myanmar. So it should not be.
Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP) in Hpruso Township, Pyithu Hluttaw candidate U Dee De
It is not clear why the event could not be held. We object to that. As a Democratic Party candidate in Hpruso Township, Kayah State, I object to that. It’s confusing also. So, like Rakhine, they have seven townships, like our whole state. So the voices of the region will be lost. If there are no candidates who can speak on behalf of the people in that area, the people will suffer. In my opinion, despite the armed conflict, the Arakan Army, the AA, have not announced that the election should not hold there, and they will disturb if the election is held there. I feel like it is dishonest announcement without giving a reason, and I object it.