Sources close to the regime told DVB that a 14-member “Central Committee of Security Supervision” was formed under its new General Elections Protection Law on Aug. 13 to oversee polls and manage lower level committees in the country’s states, regions, as well as in its self-administered divisions and zones located in Shan State and Sagaing Region.
“The committee is another layer of legal repression ahead of the scam elections, on top of an elaborate and draconian legal system used to punish the public for any perceived activity critical of the process,” David Mathieson, an independent analyst on human rights and conflict in Myanmar, told DVB.
Regime media reported that the first meeting of the “Central Committee on Security Supervision” was held at the Myanmar Police Force Headquarters in Naypyidaw. It is mandated to provide security during the elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28.
A source close to the regime told DVB on the condition of anonymity that a 10-member committee of “security supervision” was formed in Yangon Region on Aug. 26.
Regime officials from the region’s administration, immigration department, legal office, as well as its fire services, police, and military personnel will oversee the elections in 12 district-level townships of Yangon, and report back to the central committee in Naypyidaw.
“This is part of their character, always imposing yet another instrument of legal tyranny on society. These measures are almost certainly going to intensify ahead of December 28 as the military will tolerate no dissent of any kind,” Mathieson told DVB.
The regime Ministry of Information reported that the committee will be responsible for setting election security policies, overseeing regional and local security committees, and monitoring the activities of individuals or groups inside or outside of the country.
The first phase of the regime elections is scheduled on Dec. 28 in 102 constituencies out of a total 330 across Myanmar. Out of the total 45 townships in Yangon Region, polls will take place in Kamayut, Kyauktada, Taikkyi, Twente, South Dagon, Botahtaung, Mayangon, Mingaladon, Hmawbi, Thingangyun, Thanlyin and Alone townships.
A lawyer told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the formation of the committee is to keep an eye on residents’ online activity for any criticism of the elections.
A man living in the Shan State capital Taunggyi was arrested on Aug. 24, and charged with violating Section 23 (a) of the General Elections Protection Law. He faces three to seven years in prison and a fine of an unspecified amount, if convicted.
A total of 61 political parties, registered with the Union Election Commission (UEC), will contest the election. Nine of those parties will field candidates nationwide, including the pro-military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which governed Myanmar under a hybrid military regime from 2011-16.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party was dissolved by the UEC in 2023 for not re-registering along with 39 other pro-democracy parties. Suu Kyi, and President Win Myint, were arrested during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 and have been held in prison ever since.
The NLD won a landslide victory during the 2015 elections, which was only the second time they felt the vote was “free and fair” since it won the popular vote during the 1990 elections, which were overturned by a previous military regime.
The NLD defeated the USDP and led the civilian side of the government, alongside the military, from 2016-2021. But pro-military parties accused the NLD of voter fraud in the 2020 elections, which has been cited by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as a pretext for the 2021 military coup.
The National Unity Government (NUG), which was formed by former NLD members and elected lawmakers in opposition to the 2021 coup, have called on Myanmar citizens to boycott any elections held under the regime which seized power after the coup.
