The Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) has taken over school repairs funded by a private donor in Mudon Township. The involvement in the projects is an attempt to build a positive image for the group in the run-up to the coming 2010 election, say community members.

In September, family members of a former Mudon resident who now works in Singapore inquired about making repairs to a school in Set thawe village. Officials at the Mudon Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC), however, directed the family to allow the USDA to coordinate the repairs. The USDA is a government-backed civilian organization founded with the support of Senior General Than Shwe in 1993.

The involvement of the USDA is out of the ordinary, say sources that spoke with IMNA. "From my experience – I helped to build a school when I worked in Ye Township – this is not usual," said a principal from a government school in Mon State. "At that time, the USDA had no involvement in the project. If you want to build a school, you work with the education department and the village headman."

The donor, Mu Mwe Tay, who lives in Singapore with her husband, decided to go ahead with the school repairs in spite of the USDA involvement. The funds, organized by her sister Thit Thee Maw, were then given to Dr. Myint Oo, the chairman of the Mudon USDA.

Mu Mwe Tay contributed 90 million kyat to the repairs in Set Thwea village, with an added 25 million coming from the education department. The project was finished at the end of September. Another repair effort, this time in Kyait Uya, was completed at the end of December. Mu Mwe Tay contributed 90 million, with 60 million coming from the education department.

A third project is scheduled to begin in Doe Mar village at the beginning of March. For this Mu Mwe Tay has also donated 90 million kyat, though it is unclear how much additional funding will come from the education department. According to an IMNA source that spoke with the headman in Doe Mar, the village does not expect to receive enough money and will begin an effort to raise 25 million kyat on March 1st.

In none of the villages, however, has the USDA actually contributed any funding to the projects. Instead, the group has attached itself to the projects by organizing the repairs, using money provided by others.

The involvement has raised eyebrows in Mudon, however, where residents say they have never seen the USDA involve itself in such projects. "Building the school is not the business of the USDA. It is not concerned with them. And also it is not their money," said a headman from a village in northern Mon State. His identity and location are kept secret for safety. "I think the USDA wants to show their activities – how much power they have and how much help they give to the people. I think this is all for the 2010 election."

In a separate statement, the principle from Mon State echoed these comments: "This year, I have seen the USDA trying to involve themselves [in projects like the school repairs] and show that they are helping people. I think they are preparing for the 2010 election."

Details on the USDA's exact involvement in the election have not been officially clarified. The group boasts tens of thousands of members across Burma, but is also widely reviled for its involvement in the brutal suppression of peaceful protests during September 2007.

The USDA's controversial image was discussed in a meeting called by Southeast Command Commander Major General Thet Naing Win on January 13th in Moulmein. According to a source present at the meeting, which involved top USDA officials from Mon State, the general explained that the USDA would tailor its involvement in the election based upon local support. In places where it is popular, it will field candidates; in places where it is not, it will form new parties or direct members' voting without officially participating in the election.

Government officials have nonetheless ordered the USDA, as well as other government-sponsored civilian groups, to increase their membership. Projects similar to the school repairs have also been reported across Burma, where the USDA has been offering things like free clinics, tutoring sessions and fertilizer to group members.