Nai Htaw Han
I think these elections will not benefit the masses. Because of this, I think many people are uninterested in the election.
I have been given the permission to vote, but I won’t. The Karen National Union (KNU) also doesn’t agree with the government, and neither do the Mon, Kachin, Karen, Shan, and others. The constitution was only written to benefit the current burmese government and so many ethnic groups do not agree with it. If there is no Tripartite Dialogue, these elections will not be free and fair. This is already evident by what the government has said about the elections and the actions they have taken.
All of the refugees living in the Bandon Yan Camp are from Burma. There are 4000 ethnic people living here. Some of these people have the permission to vote, while others do not. Those people who oppose the Burmese army are not allowed to vote. It is hard to know who is going to win and who is going to lose. That is all I can think about.
Nai Sa Ha (aka Maung Ko)
I don’t agree with this election because they [government authorities] put a lot of money into the election so that the current government will remain in power. The 2008 constitution did not represent nor look after the ethnic groups. They don’t care about uniting us all together, but instead want to maintain current government authority, I believe.
I’m part of one of the ethnic groups and I have permission to vote, but I don’t want to. If we vote, the opposition parties still won’t win the election because the current government has put too much money into the elections for us to compete.
I heard that the Thai Prime minister said Thailand will send all of the refugees, at the Thai-Burma border, back to Burma. But then, I heard that it all depends on the outcomes of the elections and the refugee situation will be discussed again.
I don’t believe these elections are free and fair. I think it will be the same as twenty years ago [the 1990 elections]. Back then, I was also a member of the All Burma Student Democratic Front]. I arrived in this camp four years ago on October 11, 2006. The Thai government has provided us with good security. I want to express my hopes that all members of the ethnic groups do not agree to these elections and that they do not participate in the vote.
Nai Tala (Hlokani)
This 2010 election is not fair because the government jas lied to the residents and reinstituted the 2008 constitution, which was not ratified by the people, and are using it set the guidelines of the 2010 election. Countries like the U.S., England, and from the European Union, have objected to the election, and ASEAN objects even more.
Elections in Burma and elections in America are so different. The current government has backed the United Solidarity and Development Party, and the USDP will win. This election isn’t democratic. There will be no benefit for the Burmese citizens. If the USDP wins this election, it is certain that the ethnic minorities and the citizens will be threatened.
Now there are 1071 candidates running in the election. Also, 25% of the government is allocated to the army. Besides this, the USDP has the financial capability to organize campaigns throughout the states and townships, but other parties are unable to do so. For example, the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMRDP) will most likely win one or two positions, similar to the Karen and the Kachin, but USDP will most likely receive the majority. The other parties cannot do anything because the government doesn’t listen to others. When the USDP wins, they will rule by the 2008 constitution.
Look at Burmese government’s behavior. They have collected advanced ballots by the current government officials and public service personnel. In fact, it should just be those people in prison, hospital patients or those with an illness, and the elderly that should be given the ability to vote in advance. During the last elections in 1990, everyone voted at the same time. There was no separation like there is now. All people should vote together.
As for me, I cannot vote in this election, but I wouldn’t anyway because the elections are not fair. I will participate in elections when they are fair. The Burmese government has tried to show the world that they are a legal government.
Nai Tala is also unsure that if he will be allowed the chance to do an advance ballot or not.
Nai Darna Wi (in a refugee camp)
In my opinion this November 7th election looks like it is being conducted by the Burmese authorities and is not democratic. The authorities have pressured us to vote for their party [USDP]. But, if I were free to vote according to my own choices, I would vote for the Mon party.
The government also maintains that they will not allow journalists from to monitor the elections. The government is only allowing those who are pre-selected by the current authorities to enter the polling booth stations. Other countries have given advice to Burma to conduct the election and the Burmese government has refused this advice. Because of this, the election is not a fair election.
The Thai government has said that it will send refugees from all nine camps back to Burma after the elections. But, before the Thai government does so, it will look at the situation in Burma after the elections. If Burma acts against the people, politicians, monks and nuns, then the Thai government will reconsider their plan to send the refugees back.
I was part of a small political revolutionary party and I arrived in this refugee camp about three years ago. I have encountered many problems like having no job and no money. But the camp gives me one liter of oil, rice, salt, coal and 7 cans of fish. There are over 4,000 refugees in this camp and they are Mon, Burmese, Karen, and Shan.
Mon teacher Mi Khon Lawar Chan (Hlokani)
The AMRDP party came to my village and organized with the residents of Mon state, explaining the different symbols for the Mon party, like the Sheldrake seal, a rice plant seal, and a lion seal. The government has said it will conduct a fair election, but it will not happen, just like when the government promised schooling for children, but did not allow teachers to provide it. If I am allowed to vote I will vote for our party [AMRDP]. If I am unable to vote, then the Mon party will lose one vote.
I was present for the ratification of the constitution in 2008. They [the Burmese authorities] put a ballot box in our village and forced us to tick a certain box. The village chairman was sitting next the ballot box, with the authorities and the people’s militia and the villagers on the other side. No one dared tick the wrong box. We could not vote according to our own choices. But, now the AMRDP has informed us that we can vote for whomever we want. Those people who really want to help the nation will not be afraid of the authorities and will continue to fight. But those who are weak, will go along with what the government has pressured them to do.
Daw Thin Thin Myit (refugee)
I do not understand politics anymore. The 2010 election is unfair and the government has all the power because Daw Aung Suu Kyi does not have the right to enter and certain ethnic minorities are banned from entering as well. So this is not a democratic election.
I voted two times when I was younger but the populace never benefited. Our government is not good and we experience no rights when we live inside the country.
I have lived in Ban Don Yang refugee camp for four years. I have heard that the Thai government will send refugees back to Burma, but I am not afraid because my family and I have found a placement in another country. I am happy that I don’t have to face the Burmese government anymore. They [the Burmese government] kill us, put us into prison, and abuse us.
