Anti-election activists say the military junta’s announcement of areas where voting cannot be held proves the unfair practices of parties competing in the upcoming election.
During the pre-election period, the junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) announced that voting will not be held in 140 village tracts across 7 townships in Mon State, out of the 10 townships where elections were initially planned. The announcement was issued on December 5.
According to Mi Thuta Kyaw, chair of the Anti-Sham Election Committee under the Mon State Federal Council (MSFC), the decision is not based on security concerns but on political calculations.
“These are areas where Mon political parties have strong support. We see that elections are not being held in places where the Union Solidarity and Development Party cannot win, For example, in Tarana village tract, military junta troops are already based there and tightly controlling the area. If security were the real reason, they could provide it. These areas are being excluded because Mon parties are strong there.” she said.
She added that even though the election itself is widely seen as a sham, political parties competing in it are still trying hard to secure seats, and removing strong competitors appears to be part of that strategy.
The UEC said elections will not be held in 27 village tracts in Kyaikto Township, 28 in Bilin, 17 in Thaton, four in Paung, 31 in Kyaikmaraw, 10 in Thanbyuzayat, and 23 in Ye Township, totaling 140 village tracts.
A Mon youth involved in anti-election activities said the junta may also be trying to avoid losing control of areas it has recently retaken from resistance forces.
“In places like Kyaikmaraw, the junta claims it has regained about 70 percent control in 2024 and 2025. They could still hold elections there if they wanted, but Mon people are very strong in these areas, and the junta knows it will lose. If they lose an election, they would have to leave those areas. That’s why they don’t want to hold voting there.” he said.
Mi Thuta Kyaw urged election supporters and candidates to recognize the dishonest tactics of rival parties.
“When village administrators are killed or candidates face threats, people should not immediately blame resistance groups. This announcement shows that election competitors themselves may be using violent and unfair methods,” she said.
Although elections will not be held in the 140 village tracts, the junta said voting will still take place in urban wards, nearby villages, and fully in Mawlamyine, Chaungzon, and Mudon townships.
The military junta has announced that the election in Mon State will be held in two phases, covering five townships in each phase. However, many of the excluded village tracts are areas currently controlled by resistance forces.
Meanwhile, resistance groups as well as domestic and international organizations continue to reject the junta’s election, saying it is neither free nor fair and is merely a sham process.
