As Myanmar’s military regime prepares to hold an election in December, the groundwork for the vote has been most visible in southern and eastern Shan State, as well as in junta-controlled urban centers within resistance strongholds, including Sagaing, Magwe and Loikaw towns.
The military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) enjoys popular support in Shan State, home to 55 townships.
The junta’s election body has yet to offer details on constituencies but it appears elections are likely in eastern and southern Shan, the strongholds of the Myanmar military.
On June 11, the junta’s Union Election Commission hosted a training session on the use of Myanmar’s Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in Taunggyi, the capital of southern Shan State. Around 70 officials from both southern and northern Shan attended the training. The commission also conducted a mock vote at Taunggyi University of Computer Studies, joined by faculty members and students.
Similar events took place at Eastern Command in Taunggyi on June 13, and Triangle Region Command in Kengtung on June 17, with military personnel and their families taking part in mock votes.
During his visit to local battalions in Kengtung in May, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing urged his troops to back candidates “who can genuinely work for the benefit of the country”. The comment was interpreted by some as canvassing for the USDP, whose leadership is dominated by ex-military officers.
Min Aung Hlaing has visited eastern and southern Shan State often over the past four years, meeting with locals and military personnel there, and consecrating pagodas at Buddha Park on the outskirts of Kengtung, a religious site that has risen to prominence under the influence of his astrological advisor Vasipake Sayadaw since 2015.
On his latest tip in late May, the junta boss had a bejeweled crown—one of the Myanmar monarchy’s five items of regalia—enshrined at a pagoda in Buddha Park. To many in Myanmar, the donation of the near replica of the coronation crown of Burmese kings was nothing more than an act of yadaya, a Burmese form of voodoo, meant to boost his chances of becoming president.
The USDP won a majority in Shan State in the 2015 general election. The National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) jointly won a narrow majority of seats in Shan State in 2020 polls, together edging out the USDP.
The USDP has emerged as the strongest contender for the December election, after the regime dissolved pro-democracy parties including the NLD and the SNLD. USDP chairman Khin Yi said his party has even more candidates than the number of seats up for grabs at the Union level.
There are several ethnic minority parties in Shan State but previous election results suggest the USDP will clinch victory again.
Under the 2008 Constitution drafted by the Myanmar military, the Lower House (Pyithu Hluttaw), Upper House (Amyotha Hluttaw) and military appointees each nominate a presidential candidate, which can be either a lawmaker or a political outsider. The votes of military appointees, who hold 25 percent of seats in the legislature, and the USDP would be enough to secure the presidency for the coup leader.
As such, the USDP plays a pivotal role in Min Aung Hlaing’s presidential dream.
The regime has also demonstrated voting machines and conducted relevant training in Magwe, Sagaing, Loikaw and Homalin towns, which remain under its control.
The campaign period starts three months before the poll.
Of the 77 parties that have registered with the junta’s election body to contest the December poll, 54 have been approved so far. The USDP and other pro-junta parties including the People’s Pioneer Party led by Thet Thet Khaing, the People’s Party led by Ko Ko Gyi and the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party led by Sai Aik Pao have been particularly active.
Western countries have joined the civilian National Unity Government, other anti-regime groups and the Myanmar public in rejecting any junta-organized election as a sham aimed at extending military rule.
The junta’s key international allies, China and Russia, have backed the poll.