Political parties contesting Burma’s election this coming Sunday (November 8) are having trouble campaigning in areas of eastern Shan State’s Mong Hsat Township, which is controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA).

Sai Kyaw Aung, who is the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy’s (SNLD) electoral candidate for Mong Hsat Township Constituency-1, told SHAN that in order to campaign in Wan Hong, Sihok, Mong Yun and Tarku region, which are all located in Mong Hsat Township, they must first report to the UWSA and General Administration Development Office, under the Burma government.

“We need to pass through many security gates and this takes time, which makes traveling there very difficult,” he said. Once arriving, it’s hard to talk to residents because social distancing regulations are in place to prevent transmissions.

Aye Thida Myint, Lahu National Development Party (LNDP) candidate for Mong Hsat Township, told SHAN they can’t go to areas controlled by UWSA for campaigning. “We need to report to UWSA two days before we want to arrive.” And she heard ethnic parties were being blocked.

According to local news sources, UWSA has threatened locals about voting for ethnic political parties. 

“I think the situation in this area is much worse than during the 2010 and 2015 general elections. This year, locals are afraid of being infected with COVID-19 and they’re being threatened by armed organizations,” Aye Thida Myint told SHAN. 

In early September, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Burma Army, received UWSA leaders in the Triangle Military Command Region headquarters, located in Kengtung. The army chief donated personal protective equipment to the ethnic armed organization.

The UWSA, Burma Army, Lahu Peoples’ Militia Force and Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) all maintain forces in Mong Hsat Township.

The Wa National Party, Union Betterment Party, Lahu National Development Party, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, National League for Democracy, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party and Union Solidarity and Development Party are contesting the election in Mong Hsat Township.