The military council has begun conducting Phase-1 training sessions for electronic voting systems in General Administration offices across Yangon and Ayeyarwady regions, claiming it is for upcoming elections. Starting from 9 AM on July 14, training on the use of MEVM (Mobile Electronic Voting Machine) systems is being conducted at General Administration offices, religious halls, township halls, and police stations throughout various townships in Yangon Region. The training sessions are being attended by municipal staff, healthcare workers, election commission members, and general administration department staff.
Due to a shortage of polling station staff for the planned election, ward administrators are being pressured to find personnel. Unlike previous elections, it has become difficult to recruit polling station staff from within the wards, with almost no one willing to serve as either staff or ward election commission chairpersons. As a result, ward administrators are being coerced to serve as election commission chairpersons and to forcibly recruit polling station staff from their areas. The situation reflects the widespread reluctance among civilians to participate in the military council’s electoral process.
In Ayeyarwady Region, the military council is also pressuring non-CDM teachers to attend Phase-1 electronic voting system training. Within Hinthada District, township education officers are forcing non-CDM teachers to attend electronic voting system training sessions, threatening strict punitive actions against those who fail to attend. In Ingapu Township, Education Officer Cho Cho Khaing is particularly aggressive in enforcing attendance, threatening severe consequences for teachers who refuse to participate despite their reluctance. The military council’s actions demonstrate a pattern of coercion and intimidation to implement their electoral processes, regardless of civilian opposition and unwillingness to participate.
