Loilem Township is believed to be a Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) stronghold and many of the voters interviewed by SHAN said they had voted for the SNLD.

There are an estimated 83,000 registered voters in Loilem Township and it  is one of seven townships in Loilem District. The Union Election Commission (UEC) has cancelled voting in two of those townships, Kesi and Mong Hsu, because of ongoing conflict.

This has caused the disenfranchisement of over 100,000 voters.

Sai Nor Kham

“I got here at 6:15 a.m. We were looking for our names on the voting lists. We had to go to each polling station, one by one. Some people got bored and went back home. All people have their ID cards, but their names are not on the lists. The people responsible for the polling places said they needed to come back in the evening. I need to wait until the evening to decide how I feel about this election. I voted for the SNLD. I like this party. I think they will make a change.”

Ba Kham Eng

“They were not following the numbers. It is very busy outside, and we cannot go inside. It was crowded, so I will go back home for a while and come back later to vote.”

Nang Twe Yin

“My name was supposed to be on the list at polling station Number One. But then I was told that my name was not there and I had to go to polling place Number Two. Some people went with me, and they were tired of going back and forth checking for their names, so they went back home. I voted for SNLD, because I like their policies. I voted for SNDP in 2010, but now there are two [Shan] parties so I have a choice…I hope this election will make this country become a democracy and federal union.”

Sai Hsur Han

“I voted for the SNLD because I believe they will change politics for the better.”

Sai Su

“It was very crowded. They were not calling us in the order of our numbers. Whoever got here first, voted first. I heard them call a number over 2000, but I don’t understand when each number will be called. The person responsible for the polling place was not managing the people outside. They told us to make three lines, but they didn’t enforce it. People didn’t listen. I don’t understand what they want to do. In my village tract, there are about 1,500 people. Some families were not able to get numbers for everyone in their household.”

Nang Zarm Noon

“I got here at 6 a.m. I waited for one hour to vote. It was crowded for the people here. Now I have voted, and I voted for SNLD. I hope that SNLD wins, because I want the political situation to improve.”

By NANG HOM AND SIMMA FRANCIS (Shan Herald Agency for News / S.H.A.N)
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI