According to the military council’s newspapers, the military commission has opened cases under Section 23(b) of the Election Disruption and Prevention Law against ten people, including Dr. Teza San, who led a silent strike and an anti-election protest in Chan Aye Tharzan Township, Mandalay.
Dr. Tayzar San, Ko Nan Lin, Ko Khant Wai Phyo, Ko Htet Myat Aung, Ma May Chee (aka Chee Chee), and Ma Shune (aka Shune Shune) were charged on December 3rd at Police Station No. 6 in Chan Aye Tharzan Township.
Section 23(b) is a law newly created by the military commission after the coup. It criminalizes gatherings and acts deemed to disrupt the election. If found guilty, offenders face imprisonment from a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 10 years.
“This law was created specifically to suppress people for their election-related actions. The 2008 Constitution already includes penalties for election violations; this is an extra law produced solely for further repression. These individuals are well-known public figures, so their cases became known. But on the ground, many ordinary people are being arrested simply for posting negative comments about the election on social media,” noted a political analyst and legal expert.
On December 3, Dr. Tayzar San and his group distributed anti-election pamphlets as they entered central Mandalay, where security had been heavily tightened. They also encouraged the public to participate in the silent strike on December 10, Human Rights Day. They withdrew from the city unharmed.
That night, soldiers and police forces jointly destroyed the nearby market street where the protest occurred, and security forces patrolled the area.
Additionally, residents report widespread security operations across Mandalay and surrounding areas in recent days, including mass searches and random inspections of commuters using the Person Scrutiny and Monitoring System (PSMS).
Across the country, at least 16 people have been arrested in December under the Election Disruption Law, facing charges under Sections 23(a), 23(b), 24(a), and 24(b).
Daily newspapers under the military council have been issuing warnings, claiming that “sabotage and disruptions” are increasing ahead of the upcoming election on December 28, and alleging that these disruptions are being encouraged by foreign actors, adding that action will be taken under the Election Protection Law.
Meanwhile, revolutionary forces have designated the period from October 28th to December 31st as the “Anti-Illegal Election Period” and continue to intensify its activities.
