MYEIK-----Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced that Aye Mon Tharyar village (Chaung Chi) village in Taninthayi is now  barred from voting due to inaccessibility.

UEC sent a letter to the Myeik District Election Commission on October 23 that due to difficulty in transportation, it was excluded from voting in the 2020 General Election.

Department heads discussed matters on inaccessibility, difficulty in transportation and no permission granted from the Thailand government to travel passing Thailand and submitted to UEC and so the decision was made.

“Authority, township police and immigration officials discussed the matter concerning Chaung Chi locals for voting. Travel can’t be made without Thailand government helping it. But, as it is during COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn’t ask for help from Thailand. So, with the agreement from the administrative team, we submitted the matter to UEC, with the reasoning of inaccessibility. That’s why UEC announced the cancellation of voting in Chaung Chi village,” said Hlaing Bwa, secretary of Myeik District Election Commission.

“Suppose, we leave from Pyi Gyi Mandaing town at 6:00 am, we will reach there at 2:00 pm. If the election can’t be held on the ground of difficulty in transportation, there are 751 eligible voters. If 5 people spent their time and energy over 700 eligible voters can cast their votes. Now, the voting is cancelled because of inaccessibility, locals are losing their rights for voting which is a right for every citizen. It is not a good excuse blaming on difficulty in transportation. The road is difficult to travel but not in a situation to travel. There is no armed conflict in the area. In my opinion, it shouldn’t be like that,” said MP Aung Kyaw Hein from Taninthayi Township constituency who is also a NLD party member.