On the Campaign Trail in a Tug-of-War Myanmar Town

NAWNGHKIO, Myanmar—The election billboards are shining new in Myanmar’s northern town of Nawnghkio, but the homes are still shattered by combat.

Myanmar’s military clawed back the town in a pre-election offensive this summer, but political campaigning is colored by the pall of destruction rather than the promise of democratic renewal.

“We are still living in fear,” said one resident, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity for security reasons.