There is widespread criticism that the November 8 election should be postponed as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and fatalities continues to rise.

Fear of COVID-19 increasing as a result of holding elections has already prompted three democracies to postpone their national vote to avoid public health risks and a worsening spread of the COVID-19 virus. Chile, New Zealand and Switzerland have all postponed their national plebiscites in 2020.

The Election Commission (UEC) has said it has no plan to postpone the election slated for November 8. The following are the voices of ethnic party leaders about whether the election should be postponed or not.

U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham, Vice-Chair-2 of the Kachin State People’s Party (KSPP)

Many questions arise when we discuss whether the election can be postponed or not, under the 2008 Constitution. He queried whether the army would make a coup? Is the postponement of the election legal or not?

Kwan Gaung Aung Kham considered “all parties should at least hold online meetings to seek the best solution. Nothing will happen if our party agrees to it, but the remaining parties oppose it. All parties should discuss whether the election should be held or not, and what is the election's impact on public health. The rate of COVID-19 infection may increase if the election is held. The fatality rate may also increase. So, the government, the opposition parties and the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and all other parties should negotiate a solution.

Sai Lake, General Secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD)

Sai Lake: “I have no reason to oppose the postponement of the election for the public good and safety of the people. I also have no plan to protest, if the election is held on November 8 assuming that the election is important. But we should completely accept the fact that public health is more important than voting, and the election. I want the election to be a free and fair election. For that, the people themselves are required to be willing to cast their votes. The authorities should fully give health guarantees to the public in order to encourage interest in voting. If the health risk is not adequately addressed by the authorities, then we should pay more attention to public health than the election.”

U Thae Yal, Secretary of Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP)

The election should be postponed if the situation becomes worse. How long will the election be postponed? Another point is we need to look at the provisions of the 2008 Constitution. There will be no problem if the delay is only one or two months. It is required to enact a law for the state of emergency if the election is postponed for years. One worrying point for us is that the Tatmadaw shall have the authority automatically if a new government cannot be formed after the expiry of the five-year term according to the 2008 Constitution. We also worry that the authorities can control the spread of the virus if the postponement period is one or two weeks to one to two months. If the postponement period will take years, the UEC shall make necessary preparations for it.

Naing Layi Tama, Joint General Secretary-1 of the Mon Unity Party (MUP)

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to take years. I worry that undesirable political problems may arise if the election date is postponed. I think the election should be held on the set date whatever the situation is. The UEC should hold the election on the set date by taking the preventive measures and directives issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Mann Aung Pyi Soe, Chair of the Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP)

The UEC said South Korea and Singapore held the elections despite the spread of COVID-19. According to UEC we have made preparations for the election as much as we can so that the UEC may hold the election. Our preparations for the election are to no avail if the UEC is unable to hold the election. On the other hand, when we think about which one is more important “the pandemic or the election” -- The pandemic is more important.

Life-threatening issues are more important than other concerns. I think the election should be postponed. But there is no lockdown in Karen State. For instance, the Karen State has blocked the entry of the people from Mon State. Under this circumstance, we want the UEC to hold the election. But the UEC should postpone the election if the situation becomes worse.