Bhim Udas

Myanmar’s people Sunday cast their votes in the third parliamentary elections held in line with the constitution that came into effect in 2008. The first and second general elections were held in 2010 and 2015 respectively. The first one was focused on establishing the foundation of a quasi-democratic system while the second one was more of a transition into civilian administration as many positions of government, which were once held by military personnel, were handed over to civilian staff.
Myanmar has adopted first-past-the-post (FPTP) election model. Elections will be held for a total of 1,171 seats for union, state/regional constituencies, including self-administered regions. Out of 440 seats in Lower House, election will be held only for 330 seats and the remaining 110 seats (25 per cent) are reserved for military as per the constitution. Similarly, out of the total 224 seats in Upper House elections will be held only for 168 seats. The remaining 56 seats are reserved for the military. As mentioned by Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar is a 75 per cent democratic country.
According to a preliminary official census conducted in 2019, there are 38 million eligible voters in Myanmar. A total of 96 political parties are going to contest in this election, out of which 78 will contest for union parliament and 18 the region/states. This is the first time that the ethnic parties are making their voices heard. They are united to secure more parliamentary seats this time as compared to 2015 election.

Advance voting
The country is currently grappling with the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce the risk, the Election Commission has taken extra precautionary measures and opened advance polling stations. Advance voting is organised for its nationals living abroad, senior citizens aged 60 and above, people staying in quarantine, patients undergoing treatment in hospitals as well as the government officials, civil servants, military personnel and school teachers involved in the election process.
Advance voting is taking place in three phases. First round of voting for Myanmar nationals living abroad in 40 different countries has already been completed. Second round of advance voting from 29 October to 5 November is continuing for senior citizens aged 60 and above, senior government officials, including President, Ministers, Army Generals, etc. Third round of advance voting is organised for civil servants, military personnel, school teachers and the people stranded owing to the pandemic. According to the Election Commission, it applied the advance voting based on the experiences of Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi cast their ballots in polling stations in Naypyitaw on 29 October. According to the survey conducted by People’s Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE), public trust in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was at 79 per cent up from 70 per cent last year. Because of the pandemic, voting arrangements were made for senior citizens at home as well as nearby polling stations. For those who cannot go to polling stations because of health reasons, mobile ballot boxes are made available. In Myanmar, senior voters account for more than 5.1 million people, nearly 10 per cent of 55 million of the population.
Daw Thein Khin, a 100-year-old woman, cast her vote at her home in Yangon. A COVID-19 survivor, she came out from quarantine in October. When asked if she was afraid of disease she said, “There was nothing to fear anymore. I have been in deadlier situations, the World War II, civil riots and the military dictatorship. When I was infected with the virus, I only concentrated my mind in Buddha and pray for everyone.”
She continued, “I will cast my vote until I die. I am getting old but it is important for young generation to decide the fate of the country. So, please vote. I want Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to win in the election.”
Several international observers have come to monitor the election process. Professor David Steinberg from Asian Studies emeritus at Georgetown University, who is working in Myanmar for 10 years said, “I expect the National League for Democracy (NLD) will win with a diminished majority, and ethnic parties will do better than in 2015, but the Bamah majority will hold power.”
David Scott Mathieson, an independent analyst working on conflict, peace and human rights issues in Myanmar since 1995, said, “The media has still managed to contribute to accurate reporting on many aspects of the polls. The positive role of many people in regard to preparation of the elections must be recognised, and the commitment by many people to engage in the democratic process.”
Priscilla A. Clapp, who served as chief of mission and permanent charge d’affaires at the US Embassy in Myanmar from 1999 to 2002, said, “I see no way that the NLD would not take a majority, even if it is less of a majority than in the past, because elections in Myanmar are still dominated by the unpopularity of the military, and the NLD is the antidote to that.”
“Furthermore, the NLD dominates the powerful centre of the country, where a preponderance of the votes will come from. On the other hand, I think ethnic parties are nonetheless likely to make substantial gains, particularly at the state level, where they can enjoy a greater hand in governance than they would as small minorities at the national level. So watch the state level results,” he said.

Nepali candidates
Three people of Nepali origin (PNOs) are also fighting elections for state parliament seats. Lawyer Ganesh Basnet contested in Kachin state, Shankar Kandel in Shan state and Sundar Man in Chin State. Ganesh Basnet and Shankar Kandel are fighting against NLD candidates but Ganesh admitted that he would personally vote for NLD because almost all Gorkhalis want Daw Suu Kyi to win the election. On the other hand, Sundar Man is hopeful to win this time. Three ethnic parties got united to defeat the NLD candidate in Chin state.
Ordinary voters have voiced for development, employment, good education and improved health services. They have faith in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who can lead the country and make Myanmar equally developed as its neighbours in Southeast Asia.

(The author is a former UN official and currently serving as Ambassador of Nepal to Myanmar.)