Burma’s elections to be held on township basic, not population basic

Muse Township

Elections conducted on township basic could put candidates who will be contesting for the 7 November polls in trouble and difficulties for their contestants, according to election observers from the Sino-Burma border. According to the military junta’s plan, the upcoming elections will not be based on population, but on townships.

Some candidates in Shan state have raised concerns that the proposed formation may place them before twofold challenges as population in some areas and townships are unbalanced, an elections watcher from the Sino-Burma border said.

For instance, each of the two constituencies of Shan State North’s Muse Township has been designed to have 27 polling stations. One of its constituencies is in the western part of the township and the other in the eastern part. But it is learned that population is imbalanced.

“Population in the west is larger and dense in contrast to the east,” according to local resident of Muse. “In addition, most people in the east don’t have Identity Cards.”

“Under this circumstance, it is likely there may be ghost ballots,” a business predicted.

Kachin News Group (KNG) reported on 15 September that in Kachin State and Shan State, the military led Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is using local militia groups to garner votes for the party. Muse district alone hosts more than 10 local militia groups.

“Now, the militia groups in Northern Shan State are pushing people and saying ‘Everyone must vote for the junta-backed USDP’,” it said.

In accordance with Union Election Commission announcement, there will be two constituencies in each township, particular for the state legislature, which elects two representatives per township. There are 330 townships in Burma. Out of them 55 townships are in Shan State. But 15 have been formed into self-administered region/zones: Wa, PaO, Palaung, Danu and Kokang.

According to Richard Horsey, independent analyst and former ILO liaison officer in Burma, a total of 176 seats will be contested in Shan State’s 55 townships:

* Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) - 55 seats

* Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities) - 12 seats (5reserved for 5 self administered areas: Wa, PaO, Palaung, Danu and Kokang)

* State Hluttaw (State Legislature) - 109 seats (minus 8 seats for 4 townships under Wa control, but plus 7 seats for minorities each with a population of over 59,000)

The Election Commission meanwhile has issued announcement that parts of 32 townships, including 12 in Shan State, will be unable to hold elections. The 12 included 5 townships controlled by the Wa and Mongla ceasefire groups that have turned down Naypyitaw’s demand to disarm themselves.

Source:http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3208:burmas-elections-to-be-held-on-township-basic-not-population-basic&catid=85:politics&Itemid=266