In South Dagon Township, Yangon Region, the military has summoned all motorcycle taxi and sidecar drivers, pressuring them to participate in the upcoming election through threats and intimidation. On September 2, at a religious hall in Ward 20 of South Dagon, military and administrative officials gathered all motorcycle taxi and sidecar drivers in the area. During this meeting, they provided instruction on using electronic voting machines and explicitly stated that all sidecar drivers must cast their votes in the upcoming election, making clear threats about the consequences of non-compliance.
While the officials did not directly specify which party the drivers should vote for, they emphasized the need to choose a party that would genuinely benefit the country. They warned that failing to vote would constitute a dereliction of civic duty and claimed the country would lose its way without participation. The military authorities not only mandated voting but also instructed the drivers to encourage others to vote. They issued stern warnings about legal consequences for those who attempt to disrupt the voting process, organize protests, or campaign against participation. The threatened punishments range from a minimum of three years imprisonment to the death penalty in cases involving fatalities.
Similar voter education sessions are being conducted in Hlaing Tharyar Township, where authorities are threatening legal action against those who fail to vote. They have instructed that even if people do not support any particular party, they must choose what they consider the best option from available parties. While the military council has announced plans to hold the election in phases during December and January 2026, the public continues to reject and oppose this electoral process. The military’s attempts to force participation through threats and intimidation reflect their efforts to legitimize their control, despite widespread public resistance to their authority.
