The cancellation of four Wa townships by the Election Commission on 16 September from the 7 November polls has deprived tens of thousands of eligible voters of their right to exercise their franchise, reported the latest issue of The White Tiger newsletter, published last week.

“For other townships, especially in other states, only the number of voters declines,” a Shan polls lookout explained. “In Shan State, the number of legislators also goes down.”

The junta’s 2008 constitution, dubbed the Nargis Constitution by its critics, has designated six townships in Shan State as Wa Self Administered Division. But as a result of the EC announcement, there will be only seven elected representatives instead of 19:

The six townships designated as WSAD are Hopang, Markmang, Pangwai, Mongmai, Napharn and Panghsang (Pangkham). Pangwai, Mongmai, Napharn and Panghsang have been declared as “unable to hold free and fair elections.”

The four townships are under the control of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), one of the ceasefire groups that refused to become the Burmese Army controlled Border Guard Forces (BGFs). Others  who refused, include the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Shan State Army (SSA) North, National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), Kayan New Land Party (KNLP) and New Mon State Party (NMSP).

The EC had also announced parts of 28 other townships as unable to hold polling:

As for Mongla, where the NDAA is based, only two village tracts under the Burmese Army control can elect representatives, one for People’s Parliament and two for State Parliament, for the whole township. There are 11 village tracts and wards in Mongla township, nine under NDAA sway.