2020 Election

2020 Election

Elderly family members of Tatmadaw personnel wait to cast advance votes ahead of last year’s November 8 election. (Yan Moe Naing / Myanmar Now) 
Domestic election observers urge all parties to accept result of vote
A dozen organizations have called on the military to avoid political instability and allow a...
Published on Jan 30, 2021
SNLD chair Khun Htun Oo says he is stepping aside so a younger generation can lead (Supplied)
SNLD says leader’s retirement won’t affect election chances 
Khun Htun Oo, 77, is stepping aside because of old age and to allow younger generation to lead, he said
Sep 28, 2020
A man walks past a party campaign sign board in Sittwe on September 23 (Phadu Tun Aung/Myanmar Now)
Election officials censor parties’ campaign speeches ‘like the dictatorship did’
Two parties have cancelled their broadcasts in protest after election commission cut parts of their speeches
Sep 24, 2020
Tatmadaw soldiers seen in Kyaukme district in 2019 (Myat Moe Thu/Myanmar Now)
Sudden arrival of soldiers in swing seats seen as bid to boost USDP’s chances
In at least one case soldiers arrived after the deadline to be eligible to vote but registered anyway, local MP says
Sep 22, 2020
USDP supporters during the clash at Nyaung Kaing village (supplied)
USDP campaigners pelt NLD supporter’s home with rocks in Meiktila
Incident comes amid increasing election-related violence as rights group warns it could get ‘far worse’
Sep 21, 2020
Naing Thu Latt was deeply involved with the now-dissolved ultranationalist Ma Ba Tha group (Myanmar Now)
People’s Pioneer Party hides hardline nationalist politics beneath progressive veneer
Myanmar’s first openly gay candiate is running for the party, but PPP’s links to extremist monks suggest it is not as progressive at it seems
Sep 17, 2020
Senior NLD officials at a flag-raising ceremony in Naypyitaw to mark the start of the election on September 8 (Nyan Hlaing Linn/Myanmar Now)
NLD dismisses calls to postpone election because of Covid-19 outbreak
Top party officials said there is no ‘credible’ reason to change November 8 polling date
Sep 16, 2020
The Facebook ad spending of the political parties
NLD shuns Facebook ads even as Covid-19 lockdowns stifle campaigning 
Ruling party official says NLD is ‘going organic’ despite restrictions against on-the-ground campaigning
Sep 14, 2020
‘Nothing like this has ever happened in our village’ said one local (Supplied)
NLD MP seeks arrest of vandal who destroyed campaign sign board in village 
Maung Maung Swe filed a case with the police after the board was slashed with a knife
Sep 11, 2020
Myo Min Htun, Myanmar’s first openly gay MP candidate, at his home in Mandalay on September 9 (Yan Moe Naing/Myanmar Now)
Myanmar’s first openly gay MP candidate vows to stand up to police abuse of LGBT people
‘We don’t set boundaries’ says vice-chair of party that approved Myo Min Htun’s candidacy
Sep 11, 2020
A road in Danya Wadi quarter in Sittwe during lockdown (Phadu Tun Aung/Myanmar Now)
‘The election won’t be fair’ - smaller parties in Rakhine severely hampered by pandemic, conflict and internet ban
Parties have delayed the start of their campaigns while they try to work out how to reach voters amid restrictions
Sep 9, 2020
More than 10% of Paletwa’s population has been displaced by fighting (Martin Schibel/Google Maps)
Myanmar military and Arakan Army urged to halt fighting in Chin state during election
‘Afterwards they can keep fighting in the forest if they want,’ says aid group spokesperson
Sep 8, 2020
NLD members wear masks with Aung San Suu Kyi’s face on them at a campaign event in Pabedan township, Yangon on September 8 (Sai Zaw/Myanmar Now)
Parties mark the start of Myanmar’s pandemic-era election with subdued campaign events
Party office in opposition leader’s target constituency is silent as Suu Kyi cancels opening campaign trip to defend her Kawmhu seat
Sep 8, 2020

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