Htet Nadi (NP News) - November 8
Political analyst U Htet Aung Kyaw commented via The Statesman Journal that while some townships where by-elections will be held on April 4 are not yet fully stable, holding such elections will provide a voice representing the region, which is a positive development.
“First of all, the situation in these areas is not completely stable yet. However, conducting the election will allow the local people to have a representative. If that representative can speak up and advocate for the region, looking at it positively, it is a constructive step,” he said.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on November 5 that by-elections will be held in 55 vacant constituencies across all three houses of parliament on April 4.
The by-elections will be held under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, with 34 vacant seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, 5 seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw, and 16 vacant seats in the Region or State Hluttaw, the UEC announced.
The constituencies covered by the by-election include those that have become vacant because their representatives joined the government, as well as areas where elections could not be held previously due to regional security conditions.
Constituencies that could not be held due to security conditions include Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State, and Mogok, Natogyi, and Singu Townships in Mandalay Region.
Similarly, it has been announced that the by-elections will be held in the townships of Tigyaing, Banmauk, Indaw, Kaw Lin, Pale, Taze and Yin Mar Bin in Sagaing Region, where there is a lot of armed activity, and in the townships of Tonzang and Falam in Chin State.
The above source further commented that in such a situation of overall security instability, it is questionable whether all parties will be able to contest the by-election.
“The main point is that there are, of course, Union-level parties that are able to participate everywhere. However, I personally question whether all of them, apart from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), will actually be able to compete. In that regard, it remains questionable whether local and state-level parties will be in a position to enter and contest the election," said U Htet Aung Kyaw.
The USDP will contest all vacant constituencies in the upcoming election, along with other political parties, in accordance with existing laws, confirmed USDP spokesperson U Hla Thein.
“The USDP will contest. We will contest along with other political parties according to the law. We will contest in all of them,” he said.
U Htet Aung Kyaw said that it would be best if all parties could compete in vacant constituencies, and that there should not be a situation where only one party wins without any competition.
“If all parties are able to compete, that would be convenient. However, it is not good if a candidate wins easily without any opposition. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that it is crucial to determine whether these are townships where actual competition can take place,” he analyzed.
Regarding the security of candidates in the constituencies where the by-election will be held, U Hla Thein noted that the Union Government has been thinking about this issue in advance and has made appropriate security arrangements.
“Regarding the security of the candidates, the State will arrange it. Like other parties, our party will also make arrangements in this manner. That way, everyone gets an equal chance. Since the State has anticipated this and made preparations, it will surely have something arranged for this as well,” he said. –
zawgyi version
By-elections expected to offer voters a voice despite ongoing instability in some constituencies
Htet Nadi (NP News) - November 8
Political analyst U Htet Aung Kyaw commented via The Statesman Journal that while some townships where by-elections will be held on April 4 are not yet fully stable, holding such elections will provide a voice representing the region, which is a positive development.
“First of all, the situation in these areas is not completely stable yet. However, conducting the election will allow the local people to have a representative. If that representative can speak up and advocate for the region, looking at it positively, it is a constructive step,” he said.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on November 5 that by-elections will be held in 55 vacant constituencies across all three houses of parliament on April 4.
The by-elections will be held under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, with 34 vacant seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, 5 seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw, and 16 vacant seats in the Region or State Hluttaw, the UEC announced.
The constituencies covered by the by-election include those that have become vacant because their representatives joined the government, as well as areas where elections could not be held previously due to regional security conditions.
Constituencies that could not be held due to security conditions include Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State, and Mogok, Natogyi, and Singu Townships in Mandalay Region.
Similarly, it has been announced that the by-elections will be held in the townships of Tigyaing, Banmauk, Indaw, Kaw Lin, Pale, Taze and Yin Mar Bin in Sagaing Region, where there is a lot of armed activity, and in the townships of Tonzang and Falam in Chin State.
The above source further commented that in such a situation of overall security instability, it is questionable whether all parties will be able to contest the by-election.
“The main point is that there are, of course, Union-level parties that are able to participate everywhere. However, I personally question whether all of them, apart from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), will actually be able to compete. In that regard, it remains questionable whether local and state-level parties will be in a position to enter and contest the election," said U Htet Aung Kyaw.
The USDP will contest all vacant constituencies in the upcoming election, along with other political parties, in accordance with existing laws, confirmed USDP spokesperson U Hla Thein.
“The USDP will contest. We will contest along with other political parties according to the law. We will contest in all of them,” he said.
U Htet Aung Kyaw said that it would be best if all parties could compete in vacant constituencies, and that there should not be a situation where only one party wins without any competition.
“If all parties are able to compete, that would be convenient. However, it is not good if a candidate wins easily without any opposition. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that it is crucial to determine whether these are townships where actual competition can take place,” he analyzed.
Regarding the security of candidates in the constituencies where the by-election will be held, U Hla Thein noted that the Union Government has been thinking about this issue in advance and has made appropriate security arrangements.
“Regarding the security of the candidates, the State will arrange it. Like other parties, our party will also make arrangements in this manner. That way, everyone gets an equal chance. Since the State has anticipated this and made preparations, it will surely have something arranged for this as well,” he said. –
