Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in the northern Shan State said they will allow the parties to organize canvassing campaigns and the voters to cast their ballots freely in the 2020 General Elections.
The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Shan State Army (SSA) based in the northern Shan State said they will freely allow the parties to organize canvassing campaigns and the voters to cast their ballots in the 2020 General Elections.
Major Sai Phone Han, Spokesperson of the SSPP/SSA said: “We will allow it. A statement was issued at the bi-annual meeting. This includes our attitude towards election. We welcome it. We will allow the people to hold discussions and cast their votes freely.”
The SSPP/SSA did not ban the regional parties from organizing canvassing campaigns and the people from casting their votes in the previous elections. Now we have no plan to bar them from doing such campaigns in the upcoming election, he added.
“Elections provide the people with the right to select their representatives. It is their
democratic right.” He added “We want them to cast their votes freely. we will allow them to do so.”
Major Mai Aike Kyaw, in-charge of the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) adopted a more nuanced position. First of all, he pointed out. “The PSLF/TNLA does not support the election as it is held under the 2008 Constitution.”
However, he also maintained his EAO “will allow the parties to organize canvassing campaigns and the people to cast their votes freely, according to the democratic practice.”
Major Mai Aike Kyaw has warned that the parties need to shun the canvassing
campaigns which engage in any racial slurs or incitement to hatred.”.
The SSPP/SSA is active in Kyethi, Mongnaung, Monghsu, Tangyan, Mongyal, Wanghai, Hsipaw, Kyaukme and Namtu Townships while the PSLF/TNLA is active in Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Lashio, Namhkam, Namtu, Kutkai, Moemake and Namhsan Townships.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) was unable to hold the election for the seat for lower house parliament in the 2015 General Elections due to the regional instability in Kyethi and Monghsu Townships controlled by the SSPP/SSA. But the UEC held the by-election in those townships in 2017.
