Yangon, September (14)
Political analysts said the military council may hold mandatory elections in the areas they can control amid the country’s general crisis in order to retain power.
Military leader General Min Aung Hlaing told RIA news agency during his visit to Russia in the first week of September that the possibility of elections depends a lot on political stability, including peace and economic strength.
However, the military leader said that he is working hard to hold the election as promised when the political, law enforcement, and economic sectors are deteriorating.
Political analyst U Than Soe Naing noted, “when the conflict intensifies, the military council may hold elections in the townships and villages they can control. It will not be a free and fair election. The EAOs and NUG-led PDFs will definitely destroy this election,” he noted.
According to a report by the Special Advisory Council on Myanmar (SAC-Myanmar), only 72 out of the 330 townships in the nation are completely under the military council’s control.
Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a political researcher, said that the military regime may hold an election, but it is questionable whether the election will be free and fair.
Dr. Sai Kyi Zin Soe told Than Lwin Times, “I think they (the military council) will hold the election. However, there will be many questions regarding the legitimacy and fairness of the elections.”
The Military Council held a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on July 31 and announced that the state of emergency has been extended by six months in order to hold elections.
Now, there are only five months left in the state of emergency, and once the term expires, the military council will have to hold mandatory elections.
Political analyst U Ye Tun (Hsipaw) opined that the National Defense and Security Council meeting may be held under the next government administration after the junta election, and the state of emergency may be extended again.
The National Unity Government (NUG)’s Acting President Duwa Lashi La has said on the one-year anniversary of the People’s Defensive War that the election to be held by the military is just a political trick that will prolong the life of the dictatorship and create instability in the society. He added that it is an important time to disrupt the election of the military council and to defeat the military group politically and militarily.
News – Than Lwin Times
