Fighting continues in Magway ahead of next phase of election

Myanmar’s military is pushing ahead with the second phase of elections in Magway Region, despite ongoing clashes across this strategically vital area between the Naypyitaw, the junta’s main stronghold, and Rakhine State, where it is most vulnerable. Home to 15 of the military’s 25 armaments factories, Magway has been fiercely contested since last year, particularly along its western border with Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army (AA) continues to press deeper into central Myanmar. Many townships scheduled to vote this Sunday have seen heavy fighting, while others have reported an increase in resistance attacks aimed at disrupting election-related activities. In Ngape Township, about 150 miles west of Naypyitaw, the regime has significantly increased its military presence as the AA and allied forces attempt to seize a junta air defence base—its last major stronghold along the Magway–Rakhine border. Voting is expected to take place in Ngape and four other townships along the Rakhine border, roughly divided between areas west of the Pathein–Monywa highway controlled by AA-led forces and towns and villages east of the road that remain in junta hands. Even in areas where the regime retains relative strength, however, not all villages will be able to participate, according to a local resistance fighter. “There are some villages in Ngape Township that are under strong military influence—in some cases, the entire village supports the military,” he said. “But it will be impossible for every village in these areas to vote.” He added that similar conditions prevail in Minhla, Mindon, and Kamma townships to the south, extending as far as Oke Shit Pin, in neighbouring Bago Region’s Padaung Township. To the north, resistance forces in Sidoktaya Township said they are conducting widespread guerrilla operations but are refraining from intimidation aimed at preventing civilians from voting. According to a representative of the People’s Revolution Army–Magway, there is little need to actively discourage participation. “There appears to be minimal public interest in the sham election,” he said. “Unless people are forced at gunpoint to go to polling stations, many are likely to ignore it. Participation will likely be limited to members of the military-backed party and its supporters.” Further north in Gangaw Township, bordering Chin State, voting is expected to be confined to the main town and villages controlled by the pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia, a local resistance fighter said. “The military and its Pyu Saw Htee allies remain strong and maintain control in some locations,” he added. Local sources said the regime carried out a series of airstrikes in Gangaw in early January as part of efforts to secure the area ahead of the elections. East of Sidoktaya, in Salin Township, resistance activity is also expected to affect voting. On December 23, days before the first phase of the election, anti-regime forces attacked Sin Phyu Kyun, a small town about six miles north of Salin, the township’s administrative centre. Since then, the regime has deployed reinforcements to prevent further fighting that could disrupt polling, a local resident told Myanmar Now. “It will be almost impossible for the military to hold the election in Sin Phyu Kyun,” he said. “And we haven’t seen much election activity in Salin’s urban areas, though polling stations may still open in a few wards and nearby villages.” He added that while around 150 villages in the southern and eastern parts of the township remain under junta control, not all have access to polling stations. Resistance fighters in Magway Region (Photo: Thayet Township PDF Battalion 4) Although the regime’s grip on eastern Magway is comparatively strong, tensions have risen in recent weeks as resistance forces continue to carry out bold attacks. On December 24, a police station was targeted in Thayet Township, one of nine townships in the region that were included in the first phase of the election four days later. The most dramatic attack occurred earlier this week, when a convoy carrying Aung Lwin Oo—the third-highest-ranking official in the regime-controlled Union Election Commission—was ambushed in Myothit Township. Although Aung Lwin Oo escaped, several others were killed, including his personal assistant and the Myothit Township police chief. In response, the regime has deployed around 500 additional troops to the region to bolster security ahead of polling scheduled for January 11. While the junta claims the elections—whose third and final phase is set for January 25—will restore civilian rule, critics argue they are intended to entrench military control under a civilian façade. The vote is also unlikely to ease the conflict that has engulfed Myanmar since the military seized power nearly five years ago, as the regime continues airstrikes and ground offensives in resistance-held areas, killing scores of civilians each week. “The military sent more troops to our area so it could go ahead with the election. So military tensions are expected to remain high even after the vote, as the area hosts junta arms factories of strategic importance,” said one Magway-based resistance fighter.

Fighting continues in Magway ahead of next phase of election

Intense clashes have been reported across the region, as resistance forces continue to carry out bold attacks

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