Bhamo District Election Sub-Commission said it will open polling stations in three out of 20 IDP camps, in Bhamo District in Kachin State.
There are 20 IDP camps in four townships in Bhamo District. The sub-commission plans to open three IDP camps in Mansi Township, said U Kyaw Tun, Secretary of Bhamo District Election Sub-Commission Office.
These IDP camps are far from the wards and villages U Kyaw Tun explained. “The commission plans to open three polling stations as it is difficult for the IDP voters to cast their votes. There is no plan to open the polling station in other townships.”
According to the commission’s directive, the IDPs will have to cast their votes in the polling stations close to their wards,” Secretary U Kyaw Tun.
There are 1,446 households in IDP camps in Mansi Township. It has a population of 7,206 and . 4,975 are eligible voters.
Indaung Tan Gun, In-Charge of Robert IDP camp in Bhamo Township said: “The sub-commission said it will open separate polling booths here.
In 2015, most people voted NLD. But heir repatriation plan did not materialize. I am not sure to cast my vote in the 2020 General Election. The IDPs are not interested in voting.
More than 500 households are taking shelter at the Robert IDP camp. Only a handful of people checked their names though the lists of voters on display at the IDP camp, he added.
There are six IDPs camps in Bhamo Township, three in Mansi Township, nine in Moemauk Township and two in Shwegu Township in Bhamo District, with a total population of 17,321, according to the election sub-commission.
U Kyaw Tun, Secretary of the sub-commission said: “A total of 19 political parties will compete in the 2020 General Election in Kachin State which has a total population of over 1,080,000. The number of the IDP voters has exceeded 40,000. A total of 11 parties and two independent candidates will compete in Bhamo District.”
In Bhamo District, 30 candidates will run for the seats in the lower house parliament, 23 for the upper house parliament, 60 for Kachin State parliament and two for the independent seats.
There are 890 polling stations in Kachin State.
