Top USDP Candidates to Run in Rangoon

Among the senior officials in the Burmese military regime who are running for office in the Nov. 7 election as members of the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), most have been listed as candidates in the Rangoon Region, according to the Union Election Commission (EC) which approved the candidate lists on Tuesday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, EC officials said Thursday that the approved USDP candidate list for the Rangoon Region [previously the Rangoon “Division”] includes former Lt-Gen Myint Swe, who retired from his military post in August and will contest in Seikgyi Kha Naung To Township for a seat in the Rangoon regional parliament, and former Col and current Rangoon Deputy Mayor Maung Par, who will compete in the same township for a seat in the the People’s Assembly (Lower House) of the Union Parliament.

Observers said Myint Swe, the former commander of the Rangoon Military Regional Command who is reported to be junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s right hand man, has been tapped to be the future prime minister of the Rangoon Region.

Former Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin, the Rangoon city mayor and a leader of the USDP, is now the party candidate in South Okkalapa Township for the Lower House. Dr. Paing Soe, the deputy minister of health who is Than Shwe's family doctor and a relative of Than Shwe’s wife, Kyaing Kyaing, is the party's Lower House candidate in Sanchaung Township of Rangoon City.

Labor Minister and former Maj-Gen Aung Kyi, who is also the liaison officer between the junta and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is the USDP candidate for the Lower House seat from Mingala Tawn Nyunt Township.
Former Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, the minister of livestock and fisheries, is the USDP candidate for the Lower House in Kayan Township, and former Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, the minister of religious affairs, is the party's candidate for the Lower House in Thongwa Township.

Energy Minister and former Brig-Gen Lun Thi is the USDP's Lower House candidate in Kungyangon Township, and Soe Tha, the minister for national planning and economic development, will contest the Lower House seat in Twante Township.

Minister of Mining and former Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, and Deputy Minister of Defense and former Maj-Gen Aye Myint, are reportedly the USDP's respective Lower House candidates for Rangoon's Alone Township and Insein Township.

Former Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, also the former minister of agriculture and irrigation, is the USDP candidate for the National Assembly (Upper House) of the Union Parliament.

Well-known business figures running as USDP candidates in the coming elections are Khin Swe, a junta crony who has been on the US sanctions list since Oct. 2007, Tin Tun Oo, co-publisher of The Myanmar Times Weekly, and authors Myo Thant Tin and Tin Kha.

Khin Swe will contest for the Upper House in Rangoon Region’s No. 9 Constituency, and Myo Thant Tin is a candidate for the Upper House in Rangoon Region’s No. 6 Constituency. Tin Tun Oo is the USDP candidate for the Lower House in Pazun Taung Township.

Along with ministers and other public figures, USDP candidates include owners of medium-sized businesses and respected local figures who the Union Solidarity and Development Association (UDSA) recruited by force or attracted with business opportunities during the past five years.

Shortly after the USDP was formed in April, all assets of the USDA were transferred to the USDP.

The USDA was infamous for its involvement in the brutal ambush on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy in late May 2003 and for the crackdowns on monk demonstrators throughout the September 2007 protests.

Source:http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19489

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