Voices of diaspora Karenni youth on the upcoming junta’s election
The military junta is preparing to hold Phase 1 of the multi-party democratic general election on 28 December. The Phase 1 of the election will be held in a total of 102 townships nationwide, including Loikaw and Bawlakhe Townships in Karenni State.
Many Karenni youth state that the election organized by the junta lacks the will and participation of the public and that they will not accept it. Kantarawaddy Times spoke with young Karenni people living abroad regarding the upcoming junta’s election in Myanmar.
Khu Ko Reh (A Karenni youth in Singapore)
“This election is not the solution for Myanmar. It is an election with no future. The reason is that there is no participation from youth and no participation from the people. Even if people had to vote because they had no choice, they would be voting under threats and fear. So, this election is just an empty shell. It’s an election without the core. It will never have a core because it has no future.”
Maw Nyae Mo (A Karenni youth in Dubai)
“The junta’s election, which is set to hold on 28 December, is an election that lacks the support of the people. The reason is that they are conducting this election as an indirect means to rally the people back to their side. Even if the junta holds the election in Loikaw and Bawlakhe in Karenni State, the Karenni people won’t participate. This is because they have rejected the military coup from the beginning. We see this is an election being held without the will of the people. So, an election, which excludes the will of the people, is an illegitimate election.”
Ko Phoe Ba Gyi (A Karenni youth in Indonesia)
“As a Karenni youth living abroad, I see the election the junta will hold in December as simply another attempt of the power-crazed military regime to change their military uniform to civilian one. Put blatantly, it’s the same as them saying, ‘We’ll rule you in civilian clothes, come and vote for us.’ The reason is clear if you look at the legislative ratios in the 2008 Constitution, which they [the junta] unlawfully drafted. As long as the 2008 Constitution isn’t amended, a fair and just election will never happen.”
Byar Reh (A Karenni youth in USA)
“No matter how many elections they hold, they are unfair elections. As a Karenni youth living abroad, I can’t accept this election. This is because this election is not a fair one. Also, I want to tell those remaining in Loikaw and Bawlakhe to avoid participating in the election the junta is going to hold, if possible. But, it’s very likely that the people remaining in Loikaw and Bawlakhe will be forced to vote through threats and intimidation. It’s likely there will be threats and coercion, without the free will of the people. Because of this lack of fairness and transparency, I don’t support this election.”
Ain Sin (A Karenni youth in Thailand)
“This election is simply going to be a sham because it will be done by the junta. It’s only going to be for show. The fact is, a genuine election is absolutely impossible in these circumstances. The reason we youth are trying to survive abroad is that we in no way want to live under the junta rule. They have made it impossible for us to live inside the country. So, from where we are now, from abroad, we will continue to resist with all our might till the end.”
Kantarawaddy Times