According to military-controlled newspapers published on 21 January, elections will not be held in the Mansi and Momauk townships in Kachin State, which were originally included in the third phase of the junta’s elections.
The junta’s Union Election Commission (UEC), announced that elections will not take place in the two Pyithu Hluttaw constituencies of Mansi and Momauk, nor in the two State/Regional First Past the Post (FPTP) constituencies.
Both Mansi and Momauk are controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Although the commission initially planned to hold elections in just one village tract in Mansi and one village tract in Momauk, it has now declared that no elections will be held in either township. Mansi has a total of 44 wards or village tracts and Momauk has 66.
With Mansi added to the “no-election” list, the UEC also disqualified U Kwan San, a candidate from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), who had previously been declared the uncontested winner for the Pyithu Hluttaw seat in that township.
The third phase of the junta’s election plan for Kachin State includes Bhamo, Hpakant, and Shwegu townships along with the now cancelled elections in these two townships.
The commission further stated that in Bhamo, where the KIA is conducting an offensive, elections cannot be held in 54 out of 58 wards and village tracts. In Hpakant, elections are cancelled in 8 out of 21 tracts, and in Shwegu, elections will not take place in 39 out of 45 tracts.
In the context of widespread fighting since the coup, this election now faces cancellations in 67 out of 330 townships nationwide. Additionally, even within the townships where elections are scheduled, over 4,000 wards and village tracts will be unable to participate.
Revolutionary forces, as well as domestic and international organizations, have asserted that the junta’s election will be neither free nor fair. They have labelled it a “sham” and have refused to recognize the election. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan stated on 20 January that ASEAN will not endorse or support the results of this election.
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