The upcoming election is likely to be held in some areas that we missed in the 2015 election due to the armed conflict, U Tun Aung Khaing, Deputy Director of the Kachin State Election Sub-Commission reported. The peace and order situation has improved enabling the Election Sub-Commission to compile the list of voters that could not vote in the last election.

 

Due to the lack of peace and stability in many parts of Kachin State in 2015, the election was not held in the areas of Moemauk, Shwegu, Chiphwe, Lawsaw, Putao, Machanbaw and Lagyan townships in Kachin State

“We have now collected the population census and compiled the list of voters. These areas are very close to the conflict-affected areas,” according to U Tun Aung Khaing. Previously there were 212 No-GO areas for the 2015 election but this has now been reduced by the sub-commission to 194 areas without any voters list.

The 194 areas cover the places designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs as abandoned places, the Ethinc Armed Groups (EAO) zones, the conflict-affected areas and the areas with high security concern.

 

“The commission does not put some abandoned village-tracts in the list. There are more than 60 or 70 village-tracts where the ethnic armed organizations are active.  There are 20 village-tracts left abandoned by the villagers due to the fighting. The commission is unable to go to these areas because of security concerns.

The election sub-commission has compiled the voter lists in 178 wards and 392 village-tracts in Kachin State.