A signboard belonging to the Mon National Party (MNP) was damaged on the night of September 26th in Khale village in Karen State’s Kyain Seikgyi Township, Khale village administrator Saw San Nyunt Maung told KIC on Monday.
“The party came to erect their signboard at around 5 pm on the 26th. We learned that the signboard was damaged the next morning. We are still investigating this. We will make an announcement after confirming the news,” he said.
Around 20 members from the MNP erected their party’s signboards in Khale village tract, Five Pagoda village tract, and Khale village in Kyain Seikgyi Township on September 26th as part of their campaign, he continued.
“Now there are both Karen and Mon people living here. They are living together. It’s untrue that the signboard has been destroyed by the Karen. We don’t know whether some people are too attached to their parties or they intentionally want to cause mistrust among the ethnic people, the MNP campaign’s general secretary Nai Soe Myint told the KIC.
Eleven political parties are running in Kyain Seikgyi Township and voting booths have not been opened in many of the areas that are under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) due to concerns about potential conflict, according to the township election commission .
U Mann Tin Nyein Chan, in-charge of the Karen State Democracy and Development Party (KSDDP)’s Kyain Seikgyi Township branch, told KIC that the party rejects this incident and will cooperate with all parties with constructive intention.
KNU Deputy Battalion Commander Saw Maung Shwe from Win Ye Township Battalion 16 of Dupalayar District under KNU Brigade 6 told KIC his organizations who are in a ceasefire with the government supports the democratic process. “We have allowed freedom to all parties. Their party’s signboard was destroyed while they are working for their national cause. We don’t know which group has done it. We feel sad because of this incident,” he said.
The Karen State Election Commission will not open voting booths in 41 villages in Kyain Seikgyi Township in the upcoming election citing security related issues.
In recent weeks, a signboard belonging to the National Democratic Force (NDF) was destroyed in Cha Khat Chaung village in Kyain Seikgyi Township, according to local residents.
Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.
