Clashes Force Myanmar Junta to Cancel Voting in More Parts of Kachin

Ongoing clashes with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have forced the Myanmar military regime to cancel voting in two Kachin State townships—Mansi and Momauk—and in 11 village-tracts in a third—Bhamo. The announcement by the regime-appointed Union Election Commission came on Tuesday, just days before the regime’s final round of polling scheduled for Sunday.

KIA‑aligned forces have seized several junta positions around Mansi and Momauk, prompting the regime to declare that security conditions are no longer conducive to elections. The cancellations reduce the number of townships participating in the third and final phase of the junta-organized election from 63 to 61.

The announcement affects four seats up for grabs in the two townships—two Lower House seats and two Kachin State parliament seats, the latter two under the first-past-the-post system.