A state of emergency has been declared in Burma three months before the elections and three months after the elections by Naypyitaw, according to informed sources from the border.

No officer or man is allowed to resign and retire during the period.

“A person whose service is over at this period must suspend,” the officer said.  Military service in Burma is for 10 years.

However, they will still need to find their replacements even after the period. “Otherwise, they have to stay until they get a replacement,” he added.

“In addition, every soldier has been ordered to be ready for combat at all times,” he said.

Till date, the military junta has reportedly been reinforcing its troops and weapons in ethnic states, mostly in areas facing ceasefire groups in Shan State North,  which have turned down Naypyitaw’s demand to disarm, according to sources from both the Thai-Burma and Sino-Burma border.

In addition, many townships in ethnic states were also declared as “lacking conditions to hold free and fair elections”. On 16 September, Burma’s state media announced that of 330 townships across the country, parts of 32 townships (around 500 village tracts) in Shan, Kachin, Mon, Karenni and Karen states will be unable to hold elections as conditions in those areas are not ready for a “free and fair” process.

In Shan State, most of those banned townships are controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its ally the Mongla-based National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) that have rejected disarmament.  

The junta is now imparting military training to its militia men in northern Shan State to help safeguard polling booths.  Last month, the junta Prime Minister Thein Sein told citizens to protect the country’s image during the November elections and to prevent anyone from derailing the first polls in 20 years.

The elections are drawing near but reports of fighting and tension between the Burmese Army soldiers and ceasefire groups are still coming in.

Latest report said, on 3 October, four Dongfeng trucks carrying junta troops were reported to have arrived in Mongyai Township, near the First Brigade of Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ controlled territories.