On election day the polling stations, where diplomats were allowed to observe voting, were crowded with voters but some polling stations, where diplomats could not reach, had very few voters. It had only police and USDP members, according to polling officers.

“Nobody seemed interested in the election. Police and the USDP members came to the polling station. Less than 100 voters came to vote at each station,” an observer from Pankan village-tract in Loikaw township said.

Indian Ambassador to Burma Dr. Villur Sundararajan Seshadri, Deputy Secretary of the Chinese embassy in Yangon Mr. Xu Tao and First Secretary of Laos embassy in Yangon Mr. Vangparo Sipaseuth were allowed to observe voting in some polling stations in Karenni State.

State Election Commission officials led the diplomats visiting Loikaw township. The diplomats visited polling station no. 1 in high school no. 1 in Naungyar A ward, polling station no. 1 in middle school no. 2 in Naungyar B ward, polling station no.1 in high school no.1 in Min Su ward in Loikaw.

Voters went back from half way to the polling station that the diplomats could not reach, according to a local from Sanpya (6) mile village in Deemawso township said.

“I did not go anywhere as I was afraid of being arrested. I did not want to vote for any party,” a local, who did not vote from Deemawso town said.

The junta-backed USDP and the NUP, which is a heritage party from Gen. Nay Win’s days, contested the elections in Karenni State.