Empty polling stations in Yangon force military to use coercion and loudspeakers

Mizzima

A stark lack of public participation marked the second phase of the military-led elections in Yangon on Sunday, as authorities resorted to patrolling streets with loudspeakers and conducting door-to-door pressure campaigns to drive up turnout.

From the early morning hours, residents in townships including Kawhmu, Kungyangon, Kyimyindaung, North Dagon, Dawbon, and Pazundaung reported a barrage of announcements from motorcycles, sidecars, and trucks. Officials repeatedly broadcasted orders for everyone on the voter list to report to polling stations by noon.

“They are shouting through microphones on the streets, calling everyone on the voter list to come to the polling station without fail,” a resident of Kungyangon Township told Mizzima, noting that officials also distributed pro-election leaflets door-to-door two days prior to instill fear.

In downtown areas like Pabedan, Latha, and Bahan, Mizzima found that voter turnout was nearly nonexistent by 11:00 am. In Pazundaung, one resident noted the defiance of the local community: “The polling station is right under our house, but no one went. I didn’t vote either. Even the elderly don’t want to participate.”

To create an illusion of success for military leader Min Aung Hlaing’s visits to Insein and Hlaing townships this morning, sources suggest that crowds were likely staged.

“Since Min Aung Hlaing is there, I think they must have ordered their own people to wear masks to make it look like the polling station is crowded,” an official from the Rangoon Scout Network (RSN) said.

The RSN further noted that turnout in this second phase has significantly declined compared to the first. Beyond the loudspeakers, more sinister tactics were reported, including threats to withhold “guest list” registrations essential for legal residency if citizens failed to cast a ballot.

Security remained suffocating throughout the city, with internet outages reported near polling stations and “Faw” trucks patrolling downtown. The RSN confirmed that at least 25 young civilians were arrested between late December and early January for expressing opposition to the election process.