Regime looks to woo Manaung electorate with mobile network hookup    

By Admin 08 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

8 October 2025, Manaung
 
Myanmar’s military regime has reportedly offered to install its MPT mobile network in Arakan State’s Manaung Township, which remains under its control, as elections approach.
 
The junta-appointed Arakan State chief minister and his entourage visited Manaung Township in late September and pledged to work to restore the MPT mobile network, Arakan State government spokesman U Hla Thein wrote on his social media page.
 
Equipment for installation of the MPT mobile network has arrived in Manaung and will reportedly be installed this month.
 
“Junta officials have promised to install MPT mobile networks as a way to mobilise the public for the junta-organised election,” said a local man in Manaung. “This is a pre-mobilisation exercise to encourage the public to participate in the main junta-sponsored election. It is not about installing MPT mobile phone service for local people, but rather as a campaign for the election.”
 
Elections are due to be held in Arakan State’s Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung townships, which are under military regime control, and plans are underway to restore mobile phone and internet services in those townships.
 
Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP) founder U Ba Shein has also called on the military regime to restore mobile phone and internet services in Manaung Township to allow for more effective election campaigning.
 
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is reportedly leading a campaign in Manaung Township to explain the party and election issues.
 
Although there has been no fighting in Manaung Township, the military regime’s “four cuts” strategy has led to difficulties for local residents in terms of access to transportation, food, and healthcare.
 
While struggling to make ends meet, locals in Manaung have expressed little interest in the upcoming elections, slated for December 28.
 
“The junta blockades are making everyone in the area miserable. When everyone is struggling, the election will not be fair and the people will not be interested. They are more interested in how to solve their current problems than voting in a junta-planned election,” said a local woman in Manaung.
 
The military regime intends to hold the first phase of the election in 102 townships on December 28, and earlier this year promulgated a law that could punish anyone who attempts to disrupt the election with imprisonment or even the death penalty.
 
In total, the Arakan Army (AA) has occupied and controls 14 of Arakan State’s 17 townships, and has made clear that it will not allow elections to be held in the areas it controls.
 
The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on September 14 that elections will not be held for any Pyithu Hluttaw, Amyotha Hluttaw or State Hluttaw constituencies in 10 Arakan State townships that are under AA control. Those townships are Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Pauktaw, Myebon, and Ramree.