November 11, 2022
The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has decided not to allow organizations and parties to participate in the military council’s planned election in Karenni State, Khu Daniel, Secretary-1 of the KNPP said.
“No organizations and parties will be allowed to participate in the election in Karenni State. Either the National League for Democracy (NLD) or the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) or the Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP). The military council’s election is not the election in which the public participates. Those who participate in the election will be the ones who join hands with the military council,” he added.
The military council has extended Mase and Demoso Districts in Karenni State in addition to Loikaw District and Bawlakhe District.
“This election may materialize. However, it is a fake election. The election will materialize in some cities. There is no reason to hold an election in the states like our state. The military council’s effort to hold elections aims to get international recognition in terms of politics,” said Commander of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) Battalion-1 Khun Thaw Mas who is also the information officer of the KNDF.
Zu Pa Dumma, General Secretary-1 of the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) said: “According to the KNDF’s one-year anniversary statement, the KNDF has controlled over 75 to 80 per cent in Karenni State. Fighting is taking place in the majority of areas. Most of the people will not go to polling stations as the State has a very few people who support the army. I think at present the army is not in a position to successfully hold the election in the conflict-hit Karenni State during the designated period.”
The National League for Democracy (NLD) which won a landslide victory in the 2020 election said on November 9 that it will not recognize the military council’s election.
The military council staged a coup citing electoral fraud in the 2020 election. The military council is planning to hold the election in 2023.
Currently, the military-appointed election commission is carrying out the scrutiny of voter lists and the proposed election polls for the 2023 election.
Sent by Maw Mi Myar