According to information obtained by the Independent Mon News Agency, preparations are now underway in Myawaddy for the upcoming election, now that the junta has regained control of the strategic Thin Gan Nyi Naung area.
To ensure the election in Myawaddy can be held successfully, the junta commission has recently held talks with several armed groups, including its allied Border Guard Force/Karen National Army (BGF/KNA).
A source close to the BGF said the discussions mainly focused on preventing disruptions to the election by revolutionary forces such as the Karen National Union (KNU), as well as to provide security for election staff, local administrators, volunteers, and political party members.
“They have been holding discussions even before regaining Thin Gan Nyi Naung, but now the talks are specifically about dividing up security responsibilities for the election,” the source said.
The source also noted that the discussions included plans to deploy enough jammers to prevent drone bombings in and around polling stations.
On September 6th, with the support of the BGF/KNA, the junta commission recaptured the Kawkareik–Myawaddy–Asia Highway route, including the Thin Gan Nyi Naung military base, which had been defended by local resistance groups and is widely seen as the key to controlling Myawaddy.
Just days before losing Thin Gan Nyi Naung on September 3rd, the BGF/KNA announced it would assist in the junta commission’s planned election, ending more than a year of holding the area under joint control with allied resistance forces.
Similarly, on September 6th, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), another NCA signatory group, publicly declared at a ceremony that it would also support the junta commission’s election.
“In the past, they seemed to side with the resistance a bit, but once their own interests were affected, they shamelessly turned away from the people. They don’t care what anyone thinks of them anymore. There’s really nothing left to expect from them,” a Karen political analyst commented, adding that the KNU now faces a critical moment to make clear decisions.
The Karen National Union (KNU), the first ethnic armed group to reject the coup, stands with the people, and sends young revolutionaries for military training. The KNU has declared that it will never recognize the junta commission’s election. The KNU warns those who collaborate in the election will face consequences.
Attempts to reach the KNU for comment on the junta commission’s reliance on the BGF/KNA and DKBA for the Myawaddy election went unanswered.
“From our side, if we had the power, we would stop them no matter what. But since this isn’t our territory anymore, we can’t act as freely as we’d like. As for being satisfied—there’s nothing to be satisfied about,” said a commander of a revolutionary force operating under the KNU, speaking anonymously.
On August 28th, the junta commission officially designated the KNU a “terrorist organization.” The Union Election Commission announced that the first phase of the election would be held on December 28th, including Myawaddy, Hpa-an, and Kawkareik townships in Karen State.
“As someone from Myawaddy, I absolutely can’t accept this. Even in 2020, they couldn’t manage to hold a real election. Since then, I’ve never believed in it, and I won’t be voting,” said a 32-year-old local resident.
Locals added that the junta commission, with the support of the BGF/KNA and DKBA, is likely to be able to hold the election in Myawaddy. Currently, both junta commission forces and BGF troops have tightened security in the town, with checkpoints set up at most entry and exit points.
Meanwhile, the Union Election Commission is reportedly forcing local residents to attend large-scale election awareness programs in Myawaddy.
