NLD fails in bid to close polling stations in Mong Hsu
A request by the National
League for Democracy (NLD) to cancel by-election voting at three polling
stations in Mong Hsu Township, southern Shan State, has been denied by the Union
Election Commission.
On March 21, the Mong Hsu
branch of the NLD submitted a letter to the state election commission, calling
for the closure of polling stations in Wanloi, Mawmea and Kunkyaung village
tracts due to what it called security issues. The cancellation of polls at
these three village tracts in Loilem District would have affected more than
4,000 registered voters.
The state commission in turn
forwarded the letter to the Union Election Commission in Naypyidaw for a
decision.
Reached for comment by Shan
Herald, Than Thin, the head of the Loilem District Election Commission, said,
“We will not cancel voting at these three polling stations. However, we will
move the polling stations closer towards the main towns.”
He added: “In order for this
by-election to go smoothly, we all have to work together. That’s why we will
not close down these polling facilities. We have not yet announced where the
new polling station sites will be, because the time is not right to make that
announcement. We will wait until security is assured before we make the move.”
The polling stations will not
be relocated to sites more than four miles from their respective village tracts,
according to sources from the state election commission.
“It is better that these
polling stations are not closed down completely,” said Sai Leik, the
spokesperson for the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). “Actually,
there is no fighting in these areas. The situation is calm. However, the
villagers will have to travel to polling stations about four or five miles from
their homes. That is an inconvenience.
“Whenever it comes to voting, many
people in Shan State have little interest in participating,” he added. “Therefore,
in situations like this, we have to put in some extra effort to encourage
them.”
There are 17 village tracts in
Mong Hsu. The three village tracts in question are located in areas recognized
as territory of the Shan State Progess Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).
The SSPP/SSA made an
announcement on February 25, saying that they welcomed the by-election and were
ready to support any political party that was campaigning in its territory.
Voting was cancelled in Mong
Hsu Township, as well as Mong Nong and Kehsi townships, during the 2015 general
election due to the commencement of heavy offensives by Burmese government
forces on positions of SSPP/SSA troops in those three areas.
By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
Tags: News, Politics
