The Tamu People’s Defence Force (PDF) and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front’s Battalion 5 burnt down the Election Commission (EC) office in Tamu town in Sagaing Region.

“We are against the fake election organised by the military regime. This EC will implement this sham election so we set fire to their office as a warning,” said PDF member Thang Say.

He said the fire destroyed important documents related to the upcoming race. The armed group that’s fighting to overthrow the regime has previously threatened to take action against election buildings and anyone who supports the dictatorship’s efforts to hold the election.

This month, immigration officials and staff from the state’s General Administration Department have been busy collecting the names of people in their homes in the town’s wards.

The junta has announced polling will start in August while the resistance groups and the exiled National Unity Government, formed in part by lawmakers ousted during the coup nearly two years ago, have vowed to block it.

PDFs have already attacked multiple EC offices across the country.