As campaigning intensifies ahead of the military commission’s election, party candidates have been forced to turn back without being able to campaign in areas close to territories controlled by revolutionary forces, as militia groups under the military commission have failed to provide security, according to sources close to the candidates.
On December 12, candidates from the People’s Party were reportedly unable to enter Thaton Township to distribute campaign pamphlets because militia groups from Myan-gone Village did not assume responsibility for their security.
A source close to the People’s Party said that elections will not be held in 140 village tracts across Mon State—including Paung, Kyaikmaraw, Thaton, and Bilin townships—and therefore military commission–aligned militia groups have stated they will not be responsible for providing security for party candidates in those areas.
“Because there is no security, candidates are afraid to campaign. The militias do not take responsibility. Most of them are armed groups, and they do not accompany the candidates. They don’t explicitly block campaigning—you can go—but they won’t provide protection. That creates problems, so candidates have to turn back. As a result, they can’t campaign in wards and villages and are limited to campaigning only in urban areas,” the source said.
Due to these conditions, political party candidates have been inviting some ward and village administrators to campaign events held only at hotels and halls in towns. They are also relying on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Telegram to carry out their campaigning, the source added.
As a result, candidates have been unable to campaign effectively, and public interest in the election has reportedly declined significantly.
“At the moment, we can only operate in urban areas. Since security is not provided, it’s unsafe and inconvenient for candidates to travel. If you want to go, you have to take full responsibility for your own security. There are many areas we are not allowed to enter, so we can only campaign where we can reach. Unlike before, we can’t campaign freely—it has become more restrictive. We are forced to rely mainly on online campaigning,” said a source close to the National Development Party.
Although campaigning is officially permitted for 60 days—from October 28 to December 26—candidates have only been able to campaign for a limited number of days.
During this year’s campaign period, parties are reportedly prohibited from hanging party flags along roads and motorcades, playing campaign songs, having close interaction between candidates and large crowds, or freely conducting door-to-door and village-wide campaigning.
In the upcoming military commission–organized election in Mon State, the parties contesting include the Union Solidarity and Development Party, People’s Pioneer Party, People’s Party, Shan and Ethnic Democratic Party, National Unity Party, Myanmar Farmers’ Development Party, Mon Unity Party, and Pa-O National Development Party.
According to officials from the MSFC Anti-Election Committee, arrests are being carried out against those involved in election-related activities near areas dominated by revolutionary forces, and preparations are underway to take action under anti-election laws.
