Politicians from Myanmar’s flood-ravaged Chin state say the highly anticipated 8 November elections should be delayed ucanews.com reported on 3 September.
The Chin National Democratic Party has urged the country’s Union Election Commission to postpone the election by one month because of devastating damage during monsoon storms through July and August. Party officials say key roads and bridges in the impoverished state are still damaged and more than 15,000 people are still displaced in temporary camps.
“We are facing a tough battle for campaigning in Chin State,” Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, the party’s general secretary, told ucanews.com.
He said many roads remain impassable.
“So we have much concern that people will not be well-informed and they can’t choose the right candidate. As a result, it could be a big loss for ethnic candidates.”
There have been cases of government workers using relief efforts as a tool for propaganda and voting-buying, he said, adding to concerns that candidates from smaller parties will suffer more than government-aligned ones.
About 10 ethnic Chin parties are expected to contest the election.