Despite conflict, Arakan election officials say state readying for 2020 vote

By Min Tun 18 Jun 2020

Min Tun | DMG
18 June, Sittwe

Election preparations are proceeding as planned ahead of the 2020 vote in Arakan State, where ongoing conflict has raised doubts about the feasibility of holding the polls in just a few months’ time.

“We are arranging all programs related to the election to be ready for the election in Arakan State,” said Daw Tin Hlaing, the chair of the Arakan State Election Commission.
The Union Election Commission has said that the 2020 general election will be held in November.

At a news conference on June 4, a spokesperson for the UEC said the Commission had asked the Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence if the election could be held in Arakan State and eastern Myanmar’s Wa region, but was still awaiting a response.

The Arakan National Party, which won a majority of votes in Arakan State in the 2015 general election, has instructed its township chapters to send their candidate lists to the ANP head office by June 25.

“We are at the phase of issuing instructions to township-level offices to form a team to select candidates. Candidates will be selected step by step,” said ANP spokesperson Daw Aye Nu Sein.

The National League for Democracy and Union Solidarity and Development Party have said their candidate lists could be announced as soon as the end of June.

With clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army escalating in Arakan State this year, political parties and civil society organisations worry that the 2020 election will not be held throughout the state. Multiple constituencies in Shan State did not hold the vote in 2015 due to persistent conflict at the time.