A signboard showcasing pictures of KNRDP candidates, Sai Naing Naing Htwe, who is running for State Parliament Constituency No 1, U Khu Reh who is running for Upper House Constituency No 1 and U Steven (also known as Tun Tun) who is running for State Parliament were seriously damaged on October 1st. Another copy of the same sign was destroyed on October 7th.

“The signboards shouldn’t be destroyed, no matter who erected them. The public needs to follow democratic standards,” said U Khu Reh.

Similarly, three signboards belonging to U Soe Moe Win from the LNDP have been destroyed in various locations in Loikaw, October 1st. He is running in the State Parliament for Constituency No 1. U Soe Moe Win has reported these incidents to the State Election Commission.

“I think the parties are doing this to prevent each other from running in their constituencies,” he said.
When the Kantarawaddy Times contacted the State Election Commission via telephone to inquire about the destruction of the signboards, the commission’s officer U Kyaw San Win suggested that these cases are not the concern of the commission.

“Chapters 13 and 14 of the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) Law states that this is under police jurisdiction. They need to report this to the police. They can’t report it to the commission. If they want to report to the commission, they need to show clear evidence who destroyed the signboards. We can’t do anything without the names of the vandals. They need to report to the police. Since they don’t know who did it, they can only open a case. The commission can’t do anything for them,” U Kyaw San Win said.

The LNDP is only running for one seat in the Karenni State Parliament.
A total of 26 candidates from the KNRDP will run in the election. With 10 KNRDP candidates running for the Upper House, 11 candidates for the State Parliament, four candidates for the Lower House and one candidate for Burmese Affairs Minister position.

Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.