The Internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in the IDP camps in Arakan State, who have little access to any information about the 2020 General Election, are not showing much interest given that their participation or not, is still shrouded in confusion and doubt.

“The interest in the upcoming election is so little that many do not even know the election date, “according to Ko Barkar who is working for the IDPs in Rathaedaung Township.

It is assumed that the lack of information about exact voting places for the IDPs, makes them less interested in the election. Ko Barkar added “The IDPs show no interest in voter lists. No one checks the lists of voters here.”

U Aung Tun Thein, a local from Apaukwa village in Kyauktaw Township who is taking shelter at Alotawpyae monastery in Sittwe said: “I don’t know whether my name is included on the list or not. There is no any arrangement for me to cast my vote here. I want to cast my vote if I am ok to do so here. The commission has not informed us about the voting places for the IDPs yet.”

There are as many as 150 IDP camps including the government-recognized ones in Arakan State. The number of the IDPs in Arakan State is more than 200,000.

There appears to be a lack of clarity over whether IDPs will be able to exercise the right to vote.  U San Thar Maung, Chair of Sittwe Township Election Sub-Commission said: “The lists of voters are announced at the IDP camps, which are officially recognized by the government, but the figures for IDPs are not stable.”

The UEC plans to announce the voters lists twice. The UEC will get the exact number of voters from the IDP camps only after the lists are announced for the second time. The UEC has yet to announce whether it will open the polling stations inside the camps or not, which all contributes to IDPs feeling indifferent about the election.