“Rakhine people have little interest and no confidence in the election planned to be held this year by the coup -regime as in many parts of Rakhine will not permit the ballot to take place,” Narinjara News reported on January 21, 2023.
The information officer of the Arakan Students’ Union Ko Oo Than Naing said, “In Rakhine State, ULA/AA holds sway in many areas. That is why we can say that it is impossible to hold a normal election without the consent of the AA, a major stakeholder in Rakhine state… The NUG, PDF, and other armed groups have also rejected this election.”
Ko Oo Than Naing added that “if the junta wants to hold elections in favor of the people, it is necessary to release the arrested political prisoners throughout Myanmar, and discuss with the important political parties and ethnic armed groups in Myanmar how to amend the 2008 constitution first,” and that “It is also the case that a great many governments do not accept this election. The US government has already dubbed it a sham election.”
With regard to the political parties from Rakhine State, the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) party has clearly stated the party’s central executive committee decided to not contest in the so-called “election,” while the Arakan National Party (ANP) recently said that “only the central committee meeting will decide whether or not to enter the election,” and that “individual conversations are illegal.” Meanwhile, the Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by Dr. Aye Maung has recently stated their will to contest in the upcoming electoral exercise.
Experts have described the junta-proposed sham elections as “the path to further violence and instability” and they will only “prolong the Myanmar civil war.” While it is clear to see the Myanmar people’s rejection of the sham elections, the same action is required from the international community.