The military retook Nawnghkio in July after an 11-month battle, but election campaigning there continues amid destruction, fear and security controls. Residents say many will vote to avoid displacement rather than out of political conviction, while candidates face plainclothes security and hazards such as landmines. The junta frames a phased vote starting Dec. 28 as a step toward civilian rule; critics call it a managed process to legitimize military authority. Results are expected around late January.
Campaigning Under the Shadow of War: Nawnghkio’s Election Ahead of Dec. 28 Vote
Nawnghkio is perched on a portion of misty plateau in Shan state, once most famed for plantations yielding a cornucopia of oranges, vibrant flowers and coffee (Sai Aung MAIN)(Sai Aung MAIN/AFP/AFP)
Election posters gleam in Nawnghkio, a town on a misty Shan state plateau, yet many homes still bear the scars of an 11-month battle between rebel forces and Myanmar’s military. While the junta presents a phased ballot beginning December 28 as a route back to civilian rule, everyday life in Nawnghkio remains dominated by fear, checkpoints and the risk of renewed fighting.
Campaigns Amid Destruction
The military retook Nawnghkio in July after rebels captured the town last year following an extended offensive. Candidates now campaign under close observation: some are trailed by plainclothes security personnel, and one aspiring MP reported landmines along campaign routes into outlying villages. Military and police checkpoints encircle the town, where officers photograph suspicious vehicles and inspect civilian ID cards.
Residents’ Reality
“We are still living in fear,” a resident told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding: “We have no idea when fighting could happen.”
Many residents say they will vote not out of political conviction but to avoid further displacement or retribution. "We are not interested, but we will go to vote," the anonymous resident said. "We just want to live peacefully here. We do not want to flee again. We do not know much about politics."
Wider Conflict And Political Context
The 2021 coup that brought the junta to power toppled the elected government and triggered a nationwide conflict in which long-standing ethnic armed groups have joined pro-democracy forces. A coordinated opposition offensive that began in late 2023 enabled significant rebel gains in several regions, including advances by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the People’s Defence Force toward trade corridors with China and as far as Nawnghkio.
The junta has described the upcoming phased elections — starting December 28 in roughly one-third of townships, including Nawnghkio — as a step toward restoring civilian rule. Critics counter that the candidate vetting and legal restrictions on dissent make the vote a managed exercise to legitimize military control. The National League for Democracy, which won in 2020, has been dissolved, and the government has introduced harsh penalties, including long prison terms, for election critics and protesters.
Voices From The Ground
Aik Tun, who fled fighting and has now returned to farm land outside town, is paying close attention to campaign promises. “We need development for our village, our town, our states and regions,” the 58-year-old said. “Only when we are united can we be successful with happiness and peace in the future.”
About an hour’s drive south of Nawnghkio lies Pyin Oo Lwin, home to the military officer training academy; another hour brings drivers to Mandalay, Myanmar’s historic second city. In Pyin Oo Lwin, 33-year-old Hein Htoo Hlaing, a former captain in the army that seized power in 2021, is now running for the People’s Party. He urges conciliation: “I want to work for peace mainly… In reality, people are caught between.”
What To Watch
Results from the phased vote are expected around late January. Observers will be watching turnout in contested townships, reports of intimidation or irregularities, and whether the poll produces a government that can claim a credible mandate amid ongoing conflict.
Reporting by AFP. Names of some residents have been withheld for their safety.
