“Reporting on the results of Sunday’s election for deputies to regional people’s assemblies, the North’s state media said 0.09 percent and 0.13 percent voted against the selected candidates for the provincial and city councils, respectively. “Among the voters who took part in the ballot-casting, 99.91 percent voted for the candidates for deputies to provincial people’s assemblies…. (and) 99.87 percent voted for candidates for deputies to city and county people’s assemblies,” state news agency KCNA said. The North’s parliament and regional councils serve as a rubber stamp to the ruling Workers’ Party, with their elections usually registering over 99% voter turnout” (Jumada Al-Ula – ‘North Korea Cites Rare Dissent in Elections Even as 99% Back Candidates’ 28.11.2023, Asharq Al-Awsat).
In Pyongyang and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) or known as North Korea. The Workers Party held an election over the weekend. Not that it was a big deal or a shocker. It was more of the same and a fanfare for President Kim Jong Un. The third generation dictator and supreme leader of the Nation.
It was settled like it normally does with no dissent and no actual concern of a loss. The Workers Party was bound to win and everything was secured that way. The polls and everything is monitored…
This is why the little defiance and people showing dissent is out of the norm. There was actual citizens who dared to vote outside of the ruling party. In a state where everything is controlled and sanctioned by the state. They say what you need to do and orders people around. This is why its bold to even imagine the sacrifice of voting the opposition. The ones standing as the opposition should also be worried. If these people can get into exile. They should do it quickly, because this was a risky move.
I doubt the Workers Party will be unforgiving. They didn’t get 100% and the perfect score, though it was as close as it could get. The President didn’t get all his votes, but the party will have sole control anyway. However, that doesn’t mean these people aren’t in danger.
I just can’t phantom the ordeal and the state retaliation towards the ones who dared to vote the opposition. This slim and tiny minority will face the law. They will be under scrutiny and these people will be ratted out. The state has most likely already acknowledged what they did and they could be in trouble very quick.
These citizens are heroes, even if they are punished and criminalized for their behaviour. They dared to do it in a society and under the 3rd Generation of Kim’s who rules like demigods. These people took a ballot and voted in disregard of the living God of Pyongyang. That’s what they did and we should salute them.
They did what many of us never would have dared to do. Because, we know we would loose our job, our social score and reputation. The family will suffer as a cause of this and there is no return back to life. The state will be brutal and the demise is eminent. Just because you voted against his President and his party. That’s it…
This is why we need to remember them and what they did. Others will mock the elections and talk ill of it. It was a process and done to perfection, just so the dictator has legitimacy. However, he isn’t key player here. The ones that matters are the ones that dared to challenge him and pick the oppositional ballot. Peace.
MinBane 