“We need to build peace in Kachin areas during the term of the next government and the parliament. It’s important. Challenges remain not only in the areas where clashes have been taking place, but also with transportation and the public’s lack of knowledge about the election,” U Khet Htain Nan told BNI.

Although it is unclear the extent to which the clashes will affect the election, the ongoing conflict between the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Burmese Army that resumed in June 2011 will likely mean that the voting will not take place in several parts of the state.

“It’s certain that voting booths will have to be closed in those areas if there are clashes.  People won’t be able to vote and the commission won’t be able to open the voting booths.  So, the two armies need to announce and promise that there won’t be any clashes during the election period,” said Dr Manam Tu Ja head of the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP). Before retiring in 2009 Dr Tu Ja served as the KIO's vice president No. 2.

The Kachin State Election Sub-commission Chairman U Maung Maung Kun says his group cannot estimate the number of constituencies where clashes are likely to occur and therefore responsibility for security remains with the Union Election Commission (UEC).

“We can’t decide what we can do [for those areas]. We still haven’t received any instructions from the Union Election Commission on the election regarding the resumption of clashes,” U Maung Maung Kun said.

Dr Manam Tu Jar called on the UEC’s chairman U Tin Aye to ask both the army and the KIO to halt the conflict during the election time.  The KIO has so far declined to join the government's proposed National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) which will be signed on October 15th.

Apart from the KIO, clashes have also taken place in recent weeks between the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.