The People’s Defense Forces (PDF) of respective townships have announced that effective military action will be taken against those participating in the military council’s sham elections in Seiktha and Natogyi Townships of Mandalay Region. The township PDFs issued statements on July 31 and August 1 declaring that decisive action would be taken against anyone collaborating in the military council’s fraudulent election process.
The military council has shown no respect for the will of the people, responding to peaceful demonstrations with violence, arrests, killings, and imprisonments. After enduring these injustices, the public chose armed resistance as their path forward. After more than 4 years of revolution, the military council has failed both militarily and politically, finding itself increasingly cornered. In response, they are attempting to maintain power by putting on a false democratic facade for the international community through these sham elections, according to the Seiktha Township PDF’s statement.
Therefore, the Seiktha Township People’s Defense Force has warned that severe punitive action will be taken against anyone who participates in, assists with, or promotes the military council’s sham elections aimed at prolonging the dictatorship. Similarly, in Natogyi Township, the PDF, local defense forces, and people’s defense teams have jointly prohibited any cooperation with or promotion of the military council’s election activities, declaring that any violators will face serious consequences. The military council enacted a law on July 29 titled ‘Law on Protection of Multi-Party Democracy General Elections from Disruption and Destruction,’ establishing election security committees from central to state/regional and township levels. This law threatens those who interfere with or destroy election processes with minimum 3-year prison terms up to life imprisonment and death sentences.
