Myanmar ethnic group vows to block elections in its enclave
YANGON: One of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic groups pledged on Monday (Aug 11) to block elections in areas it controls, rejecting polls the military junta has touted as a way of ending the nation’s civil war.
The Arakan Army (AA) has emerged as a key challenger to Myanmar’s ruling generals since a 2021 military coup sparked war and today controls nearly all of western Rakhine state.
In addition to the AA, the military is battling an array of other ethnic armies that have long resisted central rule and have been joined on the frontlines by new pro-democracy guerrilla units.
Opposition groups including democratic lawmakers ousted in the coup are boycotting the vote, while a UN expert has branded it a “fraud” designed to legitimise the junta’s continuing rule.
Khaing Thu Kha, a spokesman for the AA, said the election would be blocked from areas of Rakhine controlled by the group – 14 out of the state’s 17 townships, according to conflict monitors.
“An election without public support will not benefit the people and will only create more confusion for the people,” said Khaing Thu Kha at a livestreamed news conference.
“The election may be able to be held in the area controlled by the military council, but it will not be allowed in areas controlled by us,” he added.
“It is certain that the Rakhine people are not interested in the elections.”
Thank you for reading! Visit us anytime at Myanmar.com for more insights and updates about Myanmar.
Related posts:
Policy Dilemmas and Stability: Bangladesh’s Approach to the Arakan Army
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿-𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀
Dr. Sasa Resigns from NUG, Restructuring Expected Inside Shadow Government
How Myanmar’s Gold Rush Puts International Rivers at Risk
Starlink Fuels Myanmar Scam Networks, U.S. Demands Geoblock
REBELS DOWN MYANMAR JF-17 FIGHTER JET IN ATTACK