Ko Soe Win Swe, leader of the Sagaing Forum and People’s Support Network, has revealed that while they are implementing strategies for public resistance against the military’s election, they are also working towards establishing an interim Sagaing government through the 2020 elected parliament. Protest groups are developing strategies for public resistance, and the NUG has officially announced that efforts are underway to quickly establish interim administrative councils and governments through the 2020 mandate-holding parliament in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway regions.
In Sagaing, there is a division between rural areas controlled by revolutionary forces and urban areas. While it is impossible for the military to hold elections in rural areas under revolutionary control, they can only conduct elections in urban areas where civilians may be forced to vote under military pressure and threats. The military council’s election system is notably complex, with different systems for the National Assembly, State/Regional Assemblies, and People’s Assembly, complicated further by the mix of PR and FTPT systems.
The military council’s election commission has announced that elections cannot be held in several townships in Sagaing Region, including Thigyaing, Inntaw, Pinlebu, Myaung, Pale, Yinmarpin, Depayin, Tanze, Khin-U, and Wetlet Townships. Similarly, elections cannot be held in Nyaung Oo, Sint Ku, and Mogok Townships in Mandalay Region, as well as in Saw, Thaylin, Pauk, Myaing, and Yesagyo Townships in Magway Region.
