Mya Wun Yan — Shan political parties didn’t experience any new problems during recent campaigning in southern Shan State. Although signs for the National League for Democracy (NLD) were destroyed at the beginning of the campaign period, there weren’t any new issues reported during their most recent canvassing.
“We have visited many areas during the campaign period. We paid special attention to Pinlaung Township where Aunty Suu (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; leader of the NLD) wasn’t able to visit. We haven’t received any disturbances so far. We visited villages where members of armed groups reside. We found that some of the low ranking soldiers are eager for change. They came to listen to us without their weapons and uniform. They believe in us,” said Khun Than Lwin, NLD chairman for Taunggyi, capital of Shan State.
The Taunggyi chairman told BNI Election Newsroom that because of several incidents that occurred to NLD candidates in other areas they relied on their wits while campaigning in Pinlaung, Hsi Hseng and Pekon.
Last month, Naing Ngan Lin, a NLD parliamentary candidate in Thaketa Township in eastern Yangon, was attacked by several men brandishing swords in Manpyae Quarter in Thaketa. In other areas the NLD received threats forcing the opposition party to cancel some public rallies.
Daw Nan Mya Oo, a Taunggyi Township State Parliament candidate for Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), said she faced some difficulties due to her gender. As a mother, it was hard to take the time off for canvassing, and there were budget concerns as well. Then, there is the issue of personal security while travelling across her constituency. Additionally, and unrelated to her gender, as a candidate for a Shan opposition party it wasn’t always easy obtaining permission to visit some areas during her campaigning.
“For other parties, they just have to inform the village administrator before coming to that village. The residents are assembled by the time they arrive. But, for us we have to first seek permission from the area we intend to visit. We also have to submit information to the commission about how many people will gather; it’s not just a one-step process,” she said.
The Union Pa-O National Organization (UNPO) recently had their political signs destroyed, allegedly by Hsi Hseng, village administrator for Naung Htaung. Also, someone in a motor vehicle allegedly tried to cause a head-on collision with a candidate’s car.
UNPO candidate U Khun Zaw Tun said: “When we requested to the commission to hold a campaign rally at a monastery in Hsi Hseng on Oct. 27 it was rejected on account of being on the Sabbath (Sunday; the 7th day of the Hebrew calendar week).”
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
