YANGON-----It is ready to hold General Election-2020 in cancelled constituencies in Rakhine State, says Thurain Htut, Secretary of Rakhine State Election sub-commission.

Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, Yohei Sasakawa, said during his tour in Rakhine State that it was very important for holding of General Election-2020 in nine of the cancelled constituencies in Rakhine State.

The Japanese Special Envoy visited Rakhine State on November 28th and he also observed some cancelled constituencies by Military’s helicopter.

He told the media in Rakhine State that the authorities told him[envoy] that they would strive to hold general elections again in cancelled constituencies in Rakhine State if the security would be secure.

Secretary Thurain Htut replied that he didn’t give any comments about the Japanese envoy’s speeches. But, the cancellation of the general election in some places of Rakhine State was the decision of the Union Election Commission (UEC).

“We are ready to hold a general election again in some cancelled constituencies in Rakhine State. There have been ballot papers and ballot boxes. Moreover, we had election sub-commissions at the relevant places,” said Secretary Thurain Htut.

The UEC announced cancellation of holding general elections in nine townships in Rakhine State on October 16th because these areas don’t meet conditions to hold a free and fair general election.

There are a total of 16 vacant seats for Upper House and Lower House in nine Townships which were cancelled.

The Arakan Army (AA) released a statement on November 12th. A statement urged the government and military [Tatmadaw] to hold by-election in some cancelled constituencies in Rakhine State.

The military also announced on November 12th that they welcomed the AA’s announcement as well as they would cooperate in holding a by-election in the remaining constituencies.

Similarly, the Union Betterment Party sent a letter to the UEC on November 13th calling for holding of the general election in Rakhine and Shan States.

There are over 1.6 million of eligible voters in 17 Townships of Rakhine State. As nine townships out of 17 were cancelled for holding of the general election, 1.2 million of locals lost their voting right.

Some political parties pointed out that an election can be held in cancelled constituencies as an appendix of general election-2020.