Mu Estar — The majority of rural residents in Karenni State have a lack of an understanding about the voting process, says the deputy director of Mawdu Kalarmae Social Organization (MKSO), an NGO active in the state.
“The public lacks interest in the election. Less than fifty percent of the residents in towns and villages have checked the voter list,” said MKSO's Ko Mreh.
The MKSO carried out an educational campaign on the election at the Myoma Market in Demoso town on October 1st to raise public awareness in advance of the vote which will take place next month.
Ko Mreh, added that he does not believe that residents of the villages where the organization has carried out voter education have a full understanding of the voting process, because many of them are illiterate.
Demoso Township State Parliament candidate, U Mi Reh Ye Aung, told the Kantarawaddy Times that the Election Commission, which under election rules is tasked with informing the public about the election, should be held accountable for not fully carrying out its duties.
Other people in Burma's smallest state have raised concerns that residents lack a awareness about the political system and the voting process because the election commission has failed to preform its duties. Some candidates have therefore given priority to explaining the voting process rather than campaigning even though there is only a month left before the election.
“We didn’t know how to vote. Now, we know a little,” said Ma Bo Myar from Pehlyar village, who came to attend a voter education campaign meeting.
She added that many residents in those villages lack knowledge about voting in the election so more voter education programs are still needed.
U Joseph from Daw Kalaw Du, who attended the voter education campaign, said he has never received election information and he did not know how many votes he has to cast in the upcoming vote.
MKSO’s educational campaign on the election has been supported by the Australian, Swiss and British governments. The organization will continue to conduct information sessions in Nan Mae Khon Myoma Market and Hpruso Myoma Market.
In addition to MKSO other NGOs have been carrying out voter awareness in Karenni state as well. This includes the Local Development Network, the Karenni State Youth Congress and Law Home.
