Myanmar Election Commission tightens security to prevent Rohingya participation in voting

Myanmar Election Commission tightens security to prevent Rohingya participation in voting
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The Election Commission (EC) of Myanmar has issued strict security directives to prevent Rohingya refugees from participating in the national election and referendum scheduled for February 12, citing intelligence warnings of potential risks to the electoral process, according to The Myanmar News Network International (BNI).

In official letters sent to government bodies, returning officers, and law enforcement agencies, the EC called for preventive measures to block any Rohingya involvement in election-related activities. Polls will be held in 299 constituencies, with security forces deployed from February 8 to 14, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Nearly 130 million voters are registered nationwide, with voting set to take place at about 43,000 polling centres. More than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar currently live in camps in Cox’s Bazar, where authorities have previously reported cases of forged identity documents.

Under the new directives, Rohingya refugees will be confined to camps during the election period, with heightened surveillance, identity checks, and checkpoints. Vehicle movement inside camps will be restricted, and gatherings and social media activities suspended.

Security agencies have warned of armed groups, illegal weapons, and risks of electoral interference, including vote-buying and intimidation. Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said more than 943,000 security personnel and about 800,000 election officials will be deployed nationwide to maintain law and order.