Salai Kyaw Moe & Peter Lwel Luu — Polling stations in Chin State’s Htantalan Township have asked voters wearing traditional Chin outfits to change before casting their votes as they said the clothing equated to canvassing votes for the Chin parties, according to reports from Htantalan residents. But in Paletwa voters have arrived at polling stations to vote while wearing traditional outfits without a problem.
“I feel satisfied to see people coming to vote since 6 am wearing our own traditional Chin clothing. We were allowed to vote freely. But it was tiring to move with such a large crowd of people. I’m worried that people have never used seals before so they feel a little awkward. I’m worried they stamped the wrong place?,” said Aik Kyaw Aung.
He said three have been allegedly refused voting in Sarwar Polling Station in Sami Sub-Township of Paletwa Township for not bring their national registration cards, despite arriving with voter registration cards. Residents from villages without polling stations are required by law to bring both their voter registration card and national registration card. Voters who did not understand the instruction have also been stamping the seals for two or three candidates on each ballot.
Under Sawar Village tract, Sarwar has one polling station and Nga Myint Taung also has one. In Paletwa, there are four polling stations at the high school in Myoma Ward, one polling station in Ywarma, and two polling stations in Yeikkhar.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
