Political parties competing in the upcoming junta-run elections are conducting their campaigns very quietly, avoiding open and attention-seeking activities in resistance-strong areas in Mon State, according to locals.
In Mon State’s strong-resistance areas including Kyaikto, Bilin, Thaton, Kyaikmaraw, Thanbyuzayat, and Ye townships, political parties have rarely held campaign rallies.
In the junta-controlled areas of Mon State, parties are active, opening offices, recruiting new members, and selecting candidates.
A resident of Bilin Township said that party activities are almost nonexistent, with some keeping their offices low-profile and some villages unable to even collect voter lists.
“In southern Bilin Township, there’s almost no political party activity. Some parties have quietly opened branches, but in the villages south of Union Road, voter lists haven’t even been compiled. We’ve also heard that there are no plans to set up polling stations there,” he told Than Lwin Times.
In Bilin Township, the junta is expected to conduct voting only in the town center, and parties dare to campaign only in that area.
In Ye Township, the only election-related activity observed is party officials demonstrating how to vote using the digital voting system. Political parties have been hesitant to engage in any overt campaigning, fearing they could come under the resistance’s crosshairs.
“In Ye, we haven’t seen any lively campaigning by the parties yet. In some wards, all that’s happening are demonstrations where party members show people how to use the digital voting system. The parties are still keeping a very low profile, probably because they understand the risks they could face,” a Ye Township resident reported.
In Mon State townships under full junta control, election-related activities are more vibrant, with parties actively conducting their campaigns.
In the upcoming election, 11 parties will contest Mon State constituencies, including the junta-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the People’s Party (PP), the Women’s Party – Mon (WP-Mon), and the Mon Unity Party (MUP).
The resistance forces have explicitly opposed the junta’s election and urged the public not to participate. They have also strongly warned that voting will not be allowed in areas under their control.
