Myanmar junta moves to charge more than 2,000 with voter fraud — Radio Free Asia

Myanmar junta moves to charge more than 2,000 with voter fraud — Radio Free Asia

The choice by Myanmars ruling junta to charge more than 2,000 former government authorities and election workers with citizen scams is just another form of political revenge against the National League for Democracy-led government the military overthrew early in 2015, observers and experts say.
The plan revealed on Jan. 14 by Khin Maung Oo, a member of the brand-new Election Commission set up by Myanmars military rulers, currently affects 422 individuals held under arrest and will consist of 2,489 others, including the chairmen of state and divisional election commissions.
Amongst those already charged are previous president Win Myint and former state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Khin Maung Oo stated. Both are now serving jail terms following conviction on other charges commonly regarded as politically inspired.
Khin Maung Oo did not provide details of the charges versus the 422 persons currently serving jail terms or awaiting trial from detention.
Myanmars military overthrew the democratically chosen federal government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy on Feb. 1, 2021, stating citizen fraud had caused the celebrations landslide triumph in the countrys November 2020 election.
The junta has yet to provide proof for its claims, nevertheless, and has actually strongly reduced nationwide protests requiring a return to democratic rule, eliminating at least 1,493 protesters and other civilians, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
One former chairman of a district election commission validated to RFA he has been charged for failing to supply proper oversight of the election.
” They say that we exercised weak oversight, however we in fact explored the municipalities ourselves to manage the proceedings. So how can they say we didnt provide appropriate supervision?” he asked.
An NLD ballot station agent who operated in the capital Naypyidaw throughout the election said he had actually performed his work within the appropriate legal structure. He said that he had left after finding out that other ballot officials were being jailed and has been on the run ever given that.
” They desire to dissolve the NLD and are going after all party-affiliated individuals,” he said, speaking on condition of privacy for security reasons. “About a month after the coup, some were currently under arrest and others had actually passed away.”
Another celebration member who was apprehended and later on freed stated the junta had actually relocated to apprehend chairmen and members of township-level election sub-commissions who were close to NLD executives, while those without these individual connections were only fined and after that launched.
Civilians in supporting roles
Commission secretaries put in charge of voting booths throughout the election were frequently previous army officers, nevertheless, with the civilians now being charged serving only in supporting roles, stated one former commission member now likewise under indictment.
” The secretaries did the real work, and now they are the ones who are accusing us of abnormalities,” he stated.
Though some imperfections could be seen in the November 2020 ballot, no level of scams might be found that would have changed the last election outcomes, said Sai Ye Kyaw Swa Myint, director of the Peoples Movement for Elections, which managed the November election.
” The legal structure requires to be reassessed, as we have actually suggested, rather than prosecuting countless individuals for any misdeed under the election law,” he stated. “Taking legal actions like this will not produce better elections.”
The prosecutions now under way are aimed only at getting rid of the NLD and everybody related to the party from the political scene, said political analyst Than Soe Naing.
” In my view, the 2020 election had plenty of scams. They are making extensive arrests not just of NLD members but likewise those in charge of the election process itself, so they can recommend to the world that the fraud in the election was a collaborated effort,” he said.
In fact, those now being accused are sincere people, Than Soe Naing said, including that he feels sorry both for the country and for the NLD.
Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Equated by Khin Maung Nyane. Composed in English by Richard Finney.
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” They state that we worked out weak oversight, but we actually explored the municipalities ourselves to oversee the procedures. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Equated by Khin Maung Nyane. Composed in English by Richard Finney.

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