Mon resistance groups have issued a warning to administrative officers and non-CDM (non-Civil Disobedience Movement) staff, urging them not to cooperate with the military junta in preparing for the upcoming election.
The Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF), Ye People’s Defense Force (YPDF), and Dawna Battalion (2) released a joint statement on July 21, cautioning civil servants and administrators to avoid engaging in activities related to the junta’s electoral plans.
According to sources, between July 20 and 23, the junta has been dispatching education staff from various townships to attend training sessions on how to use electronic voting machines.
The resistance groups claim to have obtained intelligence on these election-related activities and movements, and have vowed to take action to prevent them.
Officials and non-CDM staff were specifically warned not to cooperate by attending training, working with junta authorities, or facilitating election preparations in any form.
In Ye Township, the YPDF’s northern commander, Lieutenant Yan Naing, announced that any training on electronic voting machine use will be strictly prohibited. He added that those who defy the warning will face consequences.
“As the group controlling this region, we must block these activities. We are warning non-CDM staff not to cooperate. If they don’t listen, we will take action. We’re committed to resisting the junta’s influence in line with human rights principles,” Lieutenan Yan Naing said.
An education staff member reported that non-CDM teachers are under pressure from the junta’s education department to attend the training, with about 100 teachers being assigned per day from different schools — five from each school — to join the program.
“No one really wants to go, but teachers from village schools are being forced to attend. Those who do go are concerned for their safety,” the staff member added.
Teachers attending the training were also reportedly instructed not to disclose the location, content, or participant details of the training on social media.
From June 26 to 28, election commission trainers conducted a three-day course in Mawlamyine on operating voting machines. Political parties planning to contest the election were allowed to test the system during this session.
To counter the military junta’s planned 2025 elections, the Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) resolved during its third congress to implement a public awareness campaign encouraging citizens to oppose the vote.
Currently, Mon resistance forces in Ye Township are intensifying military operations to ensure the junta cannot conduct elections in the area.
