(Bangkok, 7th) Overseas voters from Myanmar have begun casting ballots early, with dozens of Myanmar citizens residing in Thailand casting their votes at the embassy in Bangkok on Saturday.
Myanmar's general election will be held in stages starting December 28, while overseas voting commenced this week at Myanmar embassies and consulates in locations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok opened its polling station on Saturday (December 6) for two consecutive days to allow early voting, while Myanmar nationals in Singapore can vote at the embassy next weekend.
During the first two hours of polling at the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, 25 people went to cast their ballots. “I am voting because I want peace and want to live in an environment filled with love and kindness,” said 42-year-old Moe Moe Lwin.
However, a 29-year-old Myanmar graduate student studying at Chulalongkorn University refused to vote. Speaking anonymously, he said that Myanmar civilians have continued to suffer oppression, displacement, and the loss of basic civil rights, and that holding an election in such circumstances is hopeless. He added that most Myanmar people in Thailand do not accept this election.
However, a 29-year-old Myanmar graduate student studying at Chulalongkorn University refused to vote. Speaking anonymously, he said that Myanmar civilians have continued to suffer oppression, displacement, and the loss of basic civil rights, and that holding an election in such circumstances is hopeless. He added that most Myanmar people in Thailand do not accept this election.
According to Thailand's Ministry of Labour, there are about 500,000 legally residing Myanmar citizens in Bangkok. The International Organization for Migration estimates that there are around 4.1 million Myanmar people in Thailand, most of whom fled due to war and do not possess legal documentation.
The outside world generally criticizes this election as a means for Myanmar's military government to extend its regime. The junta stated in September that the staged election could not cover the entire country, with about one in every seven constituencies unable to vote.
On Saturday, Myanmar's Election Commission further announced the cancellation of voting in 1,585 townships, citing that these areas were "not suitable for holding free and fair elections," further reducing the scale of this election.
The outside world generally criticizes this election as a means for Myanmar's military government to extend its regime. The junta stated in September that the staged election could not cover the entire country, with about one in every seven constituencies unable to vote.
On Saturday, Myanmar's Election Commission further announced the cancellation of voting in 1,585 townships, citing that these areas were "not suitable for holding free and fair elections," further reducing the scale of this election.