YANGON — Myanmar's military regime has restricted the opposition to such an extent that the junta-backed party will win the poll without having to cheat on election day, a pro-democracy group said Sunday.
Senior members of the Democratic Party (Myanmar) said pro-democracy parties were struggling to put forward enough candidates to contest seats in Myanmar's first poll for 20 years, owing to intimidation and limitations by the junta.
"Creating difficulties is one of the government's intentions, including financial difficulties," party chairman Thu Wai told reporters in Yangon.
The 78-year-old said the government "planned to create problems for us so they can win without doing anything unfair" when it comes to the vote itself.
The Democratic Party is among 41 groups that have been allowed to register for the polls so far, but still face serious hurdles.
"Because the security officials pressure the people, they dare not to come forward to stand," said Than Than, one of three daughters of former top Myanmar ministers who are members of the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party has already complained to the election authorities about intimidation of its members by security personnel in the run up to the poll, which has been widely condemned by activists and the West as a sham aimed at entrenching military rule.
Chairman Thu Wai expected that about 500 of 1,200 positions to be contested in the November 7 poll would be secured by members of the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) without any competition.
The USDP received a major boost after the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) -- a powerful pro-junta organisation with deep pockets and up to 27 million members -- recently merged with it.
"I think the government will be fair at the election. They already know they will win without having to do anything unfairly or by trickery," said Thu Wai, whose party is putting forward about 100 candidates, though it had hoped for 1,000.
Under strict rules, members of all parties are banned from marching, waving flags and chanting to garner support. They must apply one week in advance for permission to gather and deliver speeches outside their offices.
Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent much of the past 20 years in detention and is seen as the biggest threat to the junta, is barred from standing in the polls because she is a serving prisoner.
Her National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in 1990 but was never allowed to take office. It is boycotting the upcoming vote, saying the rules are unfair.
Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ivZ9Wcdg8_fk0rsmDzO51KXp2BIA
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