FILE PHOTO: United Wa State Army soldiers participate in a military parade, to commemorate 30 years of a ceasefire signed with the Myanmar military in the Wa State, in Panghsang on April 17, 2019. -AFP
YANGON: Wa News Land, a local news outlet, said on September 5 that the public may file a complaint to the justice department of Wa to prevent public mobilisation and election campaigning in Hopan and Panglong towns, which are controlled by the Wa.
The Wa self-administered areas established under the 2008 constitution include towns previously controlled by the United Wa State Party/United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA), as well as towns where the government administration operated. Hopan and Panglong townships are also townships where the government administration was in operation and elections were held.
During Operation 1027, Hopan and Panglong towns were controlled by the Wa, and it is not yet clear whether elections will be held in these towns during the upcoming election.
During a public meeting on September 4 to educate the public about the Wa military service law and crimes, they were informed about election restrictions, and that if they found that other organisations and parties were organising voter registration and campaigning for money, including forcing them to sign ballots, they could file a complaint. In every area under Wa rule, there is only one United Wa State Party (UWSP) and no other party was allowed to set up ballot boxes, a local resident told Wa News Land.
Wa News Land reported that the government has repeatedly requested to hold elections in areas previously controlled by the UWSA/UWSP and lacking government administration, but the UWSA/UWSP has repeatedly refused.
In early August 2025, the Shan State government led by Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung visited Panghsang, the headquarters of the “Wa”, and Mongla, the NDAA controlled town, and held talks with the leaders of these groups.
Regarding the visit of the Shan State government, the Wa’s press releases stated that the Shan State government visited the Wa region under the directive of the National Defence and Security Council, and that the election will be held in December. Issues related to elections, education, health, and other regional development projects were discussed.
The State Administration Council enacted the Law on the Protection of Elections from Disruption and Sabotage, which provides for penalties ranging from a minimum of three years in prison to the death penalty, including penalties for obstructing election campaigns, voters, and polling station personnel, on July 29, 2025.
The purposes of enacting the law are (a) to prevent obstruction of the conduct of multi-party democratic general election processes, (b) to prevent obstruction of election campaigns in accordance with the law during the campaign period before the multi-party democratic general election, (c) to prevent obstruction of free and fair voting by all those entitled to vote, and (d) to ensure that polling stations personnel can perform their duties in complete safety. - Eleven Media/ANN
