CNI News
10 Nov 2022
The consequences of holding or cancelling the general election planned for 2023 by the State Administration Council are being debated because the opposition is disrupting the efforts.
The SAC announced that a general election would be held in 2023 while Acting President Duwa Lashi La of the National Unity Government, which has been fighting to topple the junta, said on 11th October, 2022 that the general election planned by the SAC must be disrupted without fail.
The success of the general election does not bode well for the country but cancelling it may aggravate the situation, EAO Leader Col Khun Okkar told the CNI.
He told the CNI, “Neither is good for the country. Holding the general election does not augur well for the country but cancellation of it may worsen the current situation. If the election is cancelled, lawlessness will prevail. If the election is held as scheduled, conflicts will prevail, causing enormous damage.”
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi cast her early vote in the 2020 general election. (AP)
Elections held by the SAC would not be free and fair and the majority of the public would not trust them, Spokesperson Lway Chi Sanga of Ta’ang Women Organization told the CNI.
She said, “No one trust them. If they hold a general election, it can’t be free and fair. The majority of the people will not support them. Very few people who do not understand politics will go to vote. I can’t say exactly whether the general election will be held or not. It depends only on their decision.”
Military rule is likely to be perpetuated if the general election cannot be held in 2023, Secretary Mai Ohn Khaing of the Ta’ang National Party told the CNI.
“There are many challenges and crises under current circumstances. The military junta will continue their rule if the general election is impossible. It is difficult and too early to say something about it because everything depends on whether the general election is possible or not.”
Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing cast his early vote in the 2020 general election. (AFP)
Some political analysts are worried that failure to hold the general election may pave the way for a total military seizure of power without time limitations similar to that of the SLORC and the SPDC.
They pointed out that the 2008 constitution will become null and void if the general election cannot be held in 2023 and the public will lose rights of citizens guaranteed by the constitution prohibiting the nationalization of private businesses and demonetization of the currency.
Comrade Aye Lwin of the ABSDF told the CNI, “Elections are indispensable for establishing a democratic system. There must be genuine elections that reflect the will of the people in a country. However, elections held by coup-makers will not bring about a system aspired by the people.”
Election volunteers carrying early ballot boxes. (AP)
On 1st February, 2021, the junta ousted the government of the NLD by accusing it of forming a new government without settling voter’s list disputes and declared a state of emergency.
Then, the NUG and the PDF launched the Spring Revolution to topple the junta and urged the public to boycott the elections to be held by the SAC.
The SAC chairman had promised to hold a general election in August, 2023 and vowed to transfer power to the winning party.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on 7th November saying the general election planned by the SAC would not be free and fair and perpetuate the crisis and the US rejected the general election.
