“These areas are quite remote for providing security. Forty-five special election police officers will help to keep them secure,” said a Chipwi Township Election Commission’s chairman.

Last month, the National League for Democracy (NLD); the main opposition group, was forced to abandon a planned rally after being attacked by 30 men, some wearing Union Solidarity and Development Party headbands, they said.

According to eyewitnesses from the NLD, the attackers used weapons to hit candidates and members in the head and destroyed some of their equipment. Up to twenty- people reportedly sustained injuries and damages incurred amounted to an estimated 3,000,000 kyat (US$2,335).

The attack came after they were warned not to campaign in the area by Zakhung Ting Ying, leader of the pro-government militia; the New Democratic Army-Kachin.  Zakhung Ting Ying is currently an MP and re-contesting his position in Upper House constituency Kachin-5. He has long controlled Chipwi Township and several other townships along the Sino-Myanmar border.

There are ten parties and two independent candidates in Chipwi Township contesting the elections. As with advance voting in the rest of Myanmar, civil servants were allowed to start submitting their ballots earlier in the week.

Chipwi Township has an estimated population of 20,000 with over 12,000 eligible voters, according to the Union Election Commission. Over 10,000 residents are civil servants, including the police.

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff