Ethnic state-based parties in particular were negatively affected by COVID-19-related restrictions surrounding Burma’s 2020 general election, civil society representatives monitoring the vote have said.

Nine civil society organizations officially monitored pre-election campaigns, the November 8 election day, and the post-election context in 13 southern Shan State townships, including Taunggyi, Hsihseng, Hoping, Panglong, Kalaw, Lawksawk, Pindaya, Ywangan, Namzang, Mongnai, Langkhur, Kesi, and Kunhing.

Among the organizations was Kyun Ta Htaung Myae Foundation—or the Thousand Islands Foundation. Director Nang Wah Nu said on December 9 that small parties suffered disproportionately due to the way electoral restrictions were enforced during the monitoring period.

“COVID-19 restrictions seem to be restrictions for ethnic political parties,” she told SHAN. “According to the restrictions, more than 20-30 people were not allowed to gather. The restrictions only seemed to be for small parties. I saw that thousands of members and supporters of the current ruling party and political parties from central Burma gathered during their election campaigns.”

Nang Wah Nu also said that while ethnic political parties provided medical masks to their supporters during election campaign, the current ruling party—the National League for Democracy, which also won the majority of seats in the election—provided food to their supporters and other people.

The danger of this trend is domination by a single party, the Thousand Islands Foundation director, warned, and made it difficult for ethnic parties to reach the Parliament.

The election monitoring group also alleged that People’s Militia Forces, the Burma Army, and ethnic armed organizations restricted travel for political parties in southern Shan State and at times blocked them from campaigning.

The group’s final findings will be sent to the Shan State Election Commission in the last week of December.