UEC green-lights Paletwa Twsp elections despite military advising against

By Min Tun 24 Oct 2020

Min Tun | DMG
24 October 2020, Sittwe 

The Union Election Commission (UEC) is pushing ahead with elections in southern Chin State’s Paletwa Township over the recommendation of the military, according to a Tatmadaw spokesman.  

“The Tatmadaw had advised not to hold elections in Chin State’s Paletwa Township due to fighting. The UEC told the Tatmadaw that it was willing to hold the election. So, the Tatmadaw has to coordinate for security affairs,” Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team said at a press conference on October 24.  

“Because security is weak in Paletwa, it had been put with recommendations on the list not to hold elections,” he added. “There were negotiations. We have been asked to take care of security duties. We have replied that we will do as much as possible.” 

The UEC took input from the military via the country’s two security ministries before announcing which constituencies would not hold elections on November 8. The commission ruled out voting in a majority of Arakan State townships due to ongoing conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army, including all of the state’s northern townships.  

Bordering Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships — all of which saw their elections cancelled — Paletwa was considered a potential no-voting constituency as well.  

“They [the UEC] said they would like to hold elections in Paletwa. They told us to make a review. That’s all,” Brig-General Zaw Min Tun said.  

There were up to 39 townships nationwide that the Tatmadaw advised against holding elections this year due to security concerns, according to the Tatmadaw True News Information Team. 

Brig-General Zaw Min Tun said the Tatmadaw broke its assessment down into three categories: areas where voting could take place safely as is, areas that would be able to vote with additional security measures in place, and areas where voting could not be held at all for security reasons. 

Even in places where there is not active conflict, there have been threats by armed groups and that is why safe voting is impossible, he said. 

“There are many things we don’t know. Though there might not be fighting, there are places where armed groups have [a presence]. There are places with threats,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun. 

“It is not fair to say it’s not suitable to hold [elections] in the entirety of Paletwa Township,” said U Soe Htet, a Pyithu Hluttaw candidate for Paletwa Township. “For example, there are constituencies, like in Ann and Sittwe townships, which can hold elections. There are also places which cannot hold elections.” 

In addition to being a candidate, U Soe Htet is currently Chin State’s minister for Development Affairs, Electricity and Industry.  

Of the nine townships in Arakan State that the UEC has announced will not be holding elections next month, critics have argued that Pauktaw and Maungdaw townships have seen little to no conflict. 

In addition to those two, the Arakan State townships of Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Myebon and Mrauk-U will hold no voting this year. 

Moreover, two wards and 52 village-tracts in Kyaukpyu Township, three wards and 29 village-tracts in Ann Township, four village-tracts in Sittwe Township, and 10 wards and 52 village-tracts in Taungup Township will not hold elections, the UEC announced on October 16.