Despite lacking an invitation, soldiers from an armed ethnic group in Shan State lurked at the back of an election kick-off rally this weekend, leaving voters with an eerie reminder of the security forces in past elections.
Armed troops from the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) were captured in photos taken at a Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, also known as the White Tigers, rally on October 4.
The secretary of the SNLD, U Sai Nyont Lwin, told The Myanmar Times yesterday that rebels were not formally asked to attend the campaign event.
“It’s still not clear to me why they came. We didn’t invite them, but we also cannot prevent them from joining our ceremony because they are living near here,” he said.
SNLD candidate for Taunggyi township Nan Mya Oo posted photos on her Facebook showing the RCSS/SSA troops carrying guns and holding SNLD flags. She said a friend questioned whether those attending the event and the candidates would now be subject to the Unlawful Association Act, colonial-era legislation that makes contacting an illegal organisation punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.
“Nearly 50 troops joined the opening ceremony and then they left right after the ceremony. I didn’t expect to see them, but I was really glad they came as they are part of our ethnic group,” Nan Mya Oo told the Shan Herald.
Last month, the RCSS objected to election campaigns in areas they control due to ongoing fighting with the Tatmadaw. The SNLD ordered candidates not to campaign in contentious areas where their safety was in question. After appeals by the election commission and political parties, the RCSS reached an agreement with the Tatmadaw so that parties could continue their activities, but warned that the ceasefire and not parties’ or voters’ safety, was their priority.
U Tin Oo, the chairman of the election commission for Taunggyi district told The Myanmar Times yesterday the SNLD breached election regulations already by failing to notify the commission about the launch event that was attended by soldiers.
“Political parties must inform the election commission if they want to do any campaigning, but the SNLD didn’t inform us about any events,” he said. “If the other parties complain [about this event] to us, we will submit it to the UEC to solve this issue.”
