Myanmar military suggests election commission not hold elections in northern Rakhine, Wa area

Myanmar military suggests election commission not hold elections in northern Rakhine, Wa area
Tatmadaw True News Information Team holds a press conference on 4 August. Photo: MNA

Myanmar military, also known as Tatmadaw, has suggested the Union Election Commission (UEC) not hold general elections in five townships in the Wa Self-Ministered Division and northern Rakhine State for security reasons, according to Tatmadaw True News Information Team (TTNIT) Secretary Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun.

He made the remark in the press conference held by the TTNIT in Nay Pyi Taw on 4 September.

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said, “We have said that authorities could not ensure security in five townships in the Wa Self-Administered Division. Fighting broke out in some places in the Rakhine State, and security is weak in those places too.”

Fresh fighting broke out recently between Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Yathetaung, Buthitaung, Punna Kyun and Minbya in northern Rakhine State and Paltewa in Chin State.

But, Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun did not say why the Myanmar Military suggested the UEC not hold general elections in the Wa area where there was no fighting.