Over a 100 Karen people from areas where elections have been cancelled walked as a part of an anti-election demonstration on November 2 morning in Kyar Inn Seik Gyi township.

The Karen people from Tantar-Oo, Kyo Wine, Phayarlay Seik, and Wamarkhi or Nat Chaung Phyar village walked on the streets as a part of an anti-election demonstration in Kyar Inn Seik Gyi township. The protesters held aloft anti-election placards. The demonstration lasted an hour till 11 am.

“Over 100 people staged the peaceful demonstration. Villagers said the election will not be fair because the polls won’t be held in their villages. They think it’s unfair and they are being ignored even though they are Karen born in Karen State,” a villager said.

Demonstrators held up placards which said, “We don’t want an unfair 2010 election” and “People have the right to vote”. They began their walk from Tantar-Oo village.

The demonstration ended peacefully. Even though Burmese Army and KNU forces have been patrolling the area there is no permanent military camp in these villages.

Capt. Saw Htel Nay from KNU’s brigade no. 6 said “the villagers staged a demonstration because though the regime declared multiparty elections will be held nationwide, their villages have been kept out of the purview of the election and they cannot vote. In my opinion, it’s killing ethnic people politically.”

Villagers from Kyar Inn Seik Gyi township in Karen State and Yay township in Mon State held anti-election demonstrations two days ago.