People living on the outskirts of Shan State South’s Kunhing township are said to have been told to only vote for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by Prime Minister Thein Sein, in the upcoming general elections, according to local sources.
A Burma analyst on the border argues that the party’s practice is in contravention of the recently drafted Election Commissions issued directive No.2/2010, dated 21 June 2010, Subject: Enlisting the strength of political parties.
According to the Directive, S.11 (f) states that:
(f) creating literary works, giving talks or taking organizing measures that can spark disputes on racial affairs or religious affairs or individuals or others, and that can harm dignity and morality,
USDP members in the Kunhing branch office have reportedly been conducting a campaign to lobby voters in rural areas of the town since early July. The campaign, which flouts the regulation, is being led by Sai Nu, 45, secretary of the Kunhing branch office and also secretary of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), the parent organization of the USDP, which claimed more than 24 million members nationwide, and a Central Panel of Patrons including Snr-Gen Than Shwe, Prime Minister Thein Sein, and was dissolved on 6 July according to USDA spokesman, Thura Myint Oo.
According to local reports, the USDP members have ordered people to vote for them and not the other parties, saying that theirs is only the party that has the skills and resources to develop the country.
“They told us, other parties don’t have money, skill, ability and experience in leading the party,” said a local resident who asked to remain anonymous.
They have also inferred that the USDP will be only the party able to bring protection and conflict resolution for the villagers in the event of disturbance. Because the party has been formed by the authorities in Burma, holding it accountable to the directive will prove difficult due to the power wielded by it already. Critics of its practices feel they have little option but to voice their opinions anonymously.
The parites that will contest in Shan State South are so far: Kayan National Party (KNP), Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP), Pa-O National Organization (PNO), Inn National Development Party (INDP), Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and National Unity Party (NUP), National Democratic Force (NDF), Union Democracy Party (UDP) and Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics (UMFNP).
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