Political parties to launch campaigns by end of October
The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Wednesday that all political parties’ campaign activities can officially begin on Oct. 28 and take place over the following 60 days, to be completed by Dec. 26 – two days prior to the three-phased regime election start date of Dec. 28. The UEC instructed that all political party leaders should have had their campaign speeches submitted before Oct. 15.
It announced on Sept. 23 that a total of 4,963 parliamentary candidates from 57 political parties, including independent candidates not associated with any political parties, will contest the regime elections. Only six parties, including the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), will compete nationwide. The USDP has the highest number of candidates at 1,018.
The National Unity Party (NUP) comes second with 694 candidates. The People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) comes third with 672, followed by the Myanmar Farmers Development Party with 428, the Shan & Nationalities Democratic Party (White Tiger Party) with 584, and the People’s Party with 512. The National League for Democracy (NLD) party was dissolved by the UEC in 2023 for not re-registering post-2021 military coup.
United Wa State Army backs polls but not in its territory
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) told pro-regime media that Burma’s largest ethnic armed group will support the regime elections at the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) 10th anniversary ceremony in Naypyidaw on Wednesday. The gathering brings together the four pro-regime ethnic armed organizations which abide by the NCA – post-2021 military coup – from Oct. 15-17.
Nyi Rang, the UWSA spokesperson, declined to comment on how the Wa would help stabilize northern Shan State. But he added that peace must prevail across the entire country rather than in certain areas, pro-regime media reported. The National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) reportedly sent representatives to the event. Both the UWSA and the NDAA are not NCA signatories.
Sources told DVB that the regime sought support from the UWSA and the NDAA to hold polls in eastern and northern Shan at meetings Aug. 6-7. The UEC is unable to schedule polls in 17 of Shan State’s 55 townships. including Hopang, Mongmao, Panwai, Nahpan, and Pangsang townships in the Wa Self-Administered Division, or “Wa State,” and Mongla Township in Eastern Shan State Special Region 4, which is controlled by the NDAA.
China pledges support for Myanmar regime elections
Beijing’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun addressed the NCA 10th anniversary ceremony in Naypyidaw on Wednesday. He told attendees that China remains committed to its “non-intervention” policy in Burma’s internal affairs and that Beijing appreciates efforts to “achieve a peaceful situation in Burma” through its regime scheduled 2025-26 elections.
“We’re ready to give physical and technical support,” said Deng Xijun at the NCA ceremony on Oct. 15. Sources told DVB that he personally oversaw the handover of Lashio Township in northern Shan State, which was seized by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in August 2024, back to regime control in April as part of a China-brokered ceasefire agreement between the MNDAA and Naypyidaw on Jan. 18.
Sources told DVB that China, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia sent delegates to Naypyidaw for the NCA ceremony. Six anti-regime armed organizations in Burma called on the U.N. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to dismiss the NCA ceremony, which concludes today.
News by Region
CHINLAND—The Chinland Defence Force (CDF-Hakha) reported that one CDF member and six regime troops were killed during an attack on a police station and prison in the state capital Hakha on Thursday. The CDF said it freed 15 prisoners, including five of its members.
Hakha residents said that regime forces responded by firing at densely populated areas of the city where they believed CDF fighters were deployed. Two children were killed during a regime airstrike on a school in Vanha village, 30 miles (48 km) east of Hakha, on Monday.
NAYPYIDAW—The regime ordered private businesses to provide a daily allowance of 1,000 MMK ($0.25 USD) to their employees. This directive comes two weeks after it announced a monthly stipend of 30,000 MMK ($7.5 USD) to regime employees on Oct. 1.
A labour union member told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the directive doesn’t require employers to pay the daily allowance on days off. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are exempt. The minimum wage was set at 4,800 MMK ($1.2 USD) in 2018 under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.
SAGAING—Residents in Myaung Township told DVB that around 20 civilians were injured by airstrikes on Wednesday. Residents reported at least 10 bombs were dropped on Zayatkone village. Myaung is located 36 miles (58 km) southwest of the region’s capital Monywa.
At least 10 homes, including a monastery, were destroyed by the Oct 15 airstrikes. At least 4,000 residents have fled their homes due to fears of further attacks. The People’s Defence Force (PDF) seized and has been controlling rural areas of Myaung, according to residents.
YANGON—A group calling itself the “Yangon Army” told DVB that it attacked the USDP branch office in Mingaladon Township with three explosives on Wednesday. No casualties were reported. Mingaladon is located 11 miles (17 km) north of Yangon City.
“This is a warning to everyone who supports the regime’s elections,” the group’s spokesperson told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that three regime officials were injured in a prior attack it had carried out on an administration office in North Okkalapa Township on Sept. 30.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,080 MMK)
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