Karenni State civil society networks, including women and student groups, said the 2008 Constitution gives an unfair advantage to the Union Solidarity Development Party.
A spokesperson for the network, Mee Reh Eddie said the Constitution unfairly reserved for the ruling military regime, 25 per cent of seats in the lower house.
"The military gets 110 seats without anyone voting for them. That's unfair. The USDP are now telling villagers to vote for them and the USDP will reward each village with a donation of a 'Tologyi truck' (a motorized ploughing and crop carrying vehicle)."
Mee Reh Eddie said the USDP have stopped other smaller ethnic parties from fund raising or campaigning in villages.
"The Karenni ceasefire group tried to register with the Electoral Commission but after pressure and threats from the USDP they cancelled their application."
Mee Reh Eddie said people in Karenni State are scared to express their opinion about the elections.
"People have received death threats and are frightened of the USDP. People are interested in an election that is fair and free, but they don't think this regime will hold honest elections."
Toe Meh, secretary of the Karenni Women's Organisation said."Our group plans to oppose the election. We don't support or want the 2008 Constitution. We don't want people to vote for the wrong party – the USDP."
Toe Meh predicted that if the USDP wins the election the impact on the future of Burma will be devastating.
The chairperson of the Karenni National Youth Organisation, Sun Shine said.
"The Constitution does not give any guarantee to the people, it favors the regime. We don't trust the motives for the election. The political parties that will compete in the coming election do not represent the desires of the people. The party backgrounds show they are mainly regime sponsored alliances."
Sun Shine says KNYO will not vote for any party that supports the regime's 2008 Constitution.
The director of the Karenni Documentation Research Group, Taw Reh said. "People in remote areas did not vote for the constitution, the army took signed bloc votes for each village from the village heads. The used this as proof that the villagers approved their constitution."
The KDRG documents environment issues and human rights abuses in Karenni state.
"I witnessed people who voted against the constitution being harassed and threatened by referendum officials. The authorities told villagers, If they voted against the USDP the villagers will be punished by having to do forced labor."
Taw Reh said Burmese people do not have a choice."They are afraided, they know a vote for the USDP is a vote for the regime. THey will vote for the government even if they don't support them. They have been threatened and they are scared."
M's Mu Jenny, a central committee member of the Karenni Student Union joined the call for people to oppose the election on 7th November.
"There are still 2,100 political prisoners in jail. The USDP have already collected names of villagers to use as a 'yes' vote for them. People do not a have a choice they can only say 'yes'. The elections are not a priority for our people, it has been forced on them."
M's Mu Jenny said the USDP have spread rumors among the remote villages that if they win, each Karenni will receive 500,000kyat (about $500).
"It's a lie, but I'm afraid some people will dream, follow the rumor and vote for the USDP and their money. If that happens, it will be not be good for the other parties in Karenni State."
Peh Bu, a director of the Karenni Social Welfare and Development Centre said in displaced people areas the Burma Army has already collected names.
"The army has taken the names of displaced people and will use them as a 'yes' vote for the USDP. They forced these people to vote their way. Some of these people don't even have a national identity card yet."
Peh Bu says the government is using the ID cards as an incentive for ethnic people to vote for the USDP.
"The people put on the list for IDs will also automatically become members of the USDP. They have been collecting names since April. The Maw Chi and Shar Daw townships have been specifically targeted. This is forced party conscription. How can the election be fair if people have no choice."
Peh Bu says displaced people do not have stable living conditions.
"Ceasefire groups and the Burma Army are in conflict over the Border Guard Force handover. The BGF requires more recruitment and many IDP's have fled to avoid being force to join the BGF."
Nye Reh from the Karenni Evergreen environment group said ceasefire will not be able to log since the formation of the BGF.
"The logging will not stop, but will increase after the election. Many businesses are waiting for the government to give the go signal."
Source:http://ktimes.org/en/news/regional/item/122-community-groups-oppose-unfair-vote
Comments
Post a Comment