Yangon (AsiaNews) – Flood damage and armed clashes between government troops and ethnic armies across large areas of Myanmar are affecting the country’s election as voters prepare to go to the polls on 8 November.
In 14 townships in five flood-hit regions, residents will now have little more than a week in which to review registration lists, many of them badly out of date, to ensure their names have been properly entered, Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Thursday.
Transportation in some of the country’s worst damaged areas is still blocked, hindering political campaigners in their work.
“As this is now the rainy season, we are having problems because of heavy rain, floods, and landslides,” said Kwan Gaung Aung Kham, chairman of the Kachin Democratic Party and candidate for parliament from the region’s Sumprabon Township. “Transportation is the major problem in this area, especially in the Puta-O district”.
Ongoing fighting between Myanmar troops and rebel groups in areas inhabited by minorities, particularly in the Kachin and Shan, have also caused a lot of damage.
Fighting between separatist forces and government troops closed roads and made travel dangerous, said Htun Aung Khine, an election commission officer in Kachin state. “Some roads are full of land mines, making it difficult to send staff and equipment to polling places,” he told Radio Free Asia.
Card Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon, also spoke about the country’s upcoming election.
Despite the problems, he said he wants to see free, fair and transparent elections in order to restore confidence in the country and give new impetus to the process of democratization after 50 years of "tears and blood".
Calling “upon rulers and the people to make the forthcoming election a true exercise in democracy,” he urged candidates to favour mutual respect and lasting peace.
Noting that democracy is a "sacred duty" that Myanmar discovered the hard way, Card Bo noted that as “a religious leader I have no commands to anyone” on how to vote; yet, he insisted that he can give some guidelines in terms of candidates and parties.
In view of this, the bishop urges voters to pick those who promote peace and reconciliation, respect the country’s various ethnic groups and religions, work on behalf of children and young people, value the earth whilst favouring an inclusive economy, support women, give due importance to education and work as well as encourage a "culture of democracy" based on human rights.
