Residents of Aungpan Town in Kalaw Township, southern Shan State, show little interest in participating in the upcoming junta-overseen election.
When Shan Herald contacted Aungpan residents for their views on the junta-run election, scheduled to be held in phases starting December 28, most said they would not go to polling stations.
“No one is interested in an election run by those who shot and killed many people, including young protesters during the 2021 coup. The junta’s actions have forced people to flee, destroyed their livelihoods, and torn families apart,” an Aungpan resident said.
In Aungpan, the junta-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), People's Pioneer Party (PPP), Pa-O and Danu ethnic parties, and several others are campaigning, but public interest is almost non-existent, another local said.
“You can see the USDP, PPP, and Danu and Pa-O ethnic parties campaigning in town, but no one is interested. I won’t vote on election day either. I can’t say whether the junta will threaten people to vote,” he told Shan Herald.
Although the Danu Party should be strong because most of Kalaw Township’s population is Danu, it only won seats in the 1990 election due to weak ethnic unity.
“The voting results in Aungpan are really important. About half of the township’s population lives in downtown Aungpan and the nearby villages. In past elections, the parties that win in Aungpan usually win across the whole township. Most people in Aungpan Town voted for the National League for Democracy in 2015 and 2020. But this year, fewer people are expected to vote,” said a political analyst in Kalaw Township.
Based on the township’s demographics and party strengths, the main contenders in Kalaw Township are the Danu Party, a Pa-O militia-backed party, and the USDP. Given the Pa-O militia’s history of abusing locals and widespread resentment toward the USDP, the Danu Party is likely to win if people are forced to vote.
“Aungpan has had a Pa-O militia office for ages. The group has been oppressing the locals, so even the Pa-O people don’t like it. If people are forced to vote, there’s a good chance the Danu Party will win,” the analyst added.
Kalaw Township is home to the Danu, Pa-O, Palaung, and Taungyo ethnic groups. According to the 2024 census, the township’s population was 174,097, with the Danu, Pa-O, and Bamar as the largest groups.
