Yangon proceeds with 'flawed' election
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From more than 5 million people in 33 townships, only 408,000 people were allowed to vote for Yangon's municipal election last Saturday.
That is one fact that convinced many that the election, the first in six decades, is full with flaws.
In compiling a list of voters, the Yangon City Development Committee focused only on the households that have already paid its municipal taxes.
“We provide services to the people depending on the taxes earned by the YCDC. Every household has the right to cast the vote if they pay municipal taxes,” Yangon Mayor Hla Myint told the media conference held on December 24.
The election by-law stated that the eligible voters must be 1.5 per cent of all 18-year-old persons. MP Dr Nyo Nyo Thin of Bahan Township Constituency formerly objected to the lesser number of the eligible voters prescribed in the by-law for the municipal elections at Yangon Region’s parliamentary session.
The by-law was amended due to the objection of MP Dr Nyo Nyo Thin. The official amendment stated that only an eighteen years old person from each household has the right to cast a vote for the municipal elections.
Voting has been limited to one person per household meaning only around 400,000 people can cast a ballot while narrow age restrictions for candidates together with a ban on political parties taking part is viewed as deeply problematic.
