The Burmese military junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has started collecting votes forcibly from local members, before Sunday’s election in Kachin State, Northern Burma, said an unnamed source.

USDP member, Zung Bawm, was ordered by senior officials to come to the quarter administration office at 10 a.m., and was forced to vote for the USDP, in Du Kahtawng quarter, in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, said the source.

“It is very clear they (the junta) seem eager to win the election. They are using the same method as during the referendum in 2008,” said Awng Wa, Chairman of the Kachin Development and Networking Group (KDNG).

The regime has been widely criticized by the opposition and the international community for its 2008 constitutional referendum, and the constitution drafted by the junta’s draft committee.

The junta included the names of thousands of people who died in the carnage of the deadly Cyclone Nargis, which lashed the Irrawaddy Division in May 2008, as ‘yes’ votes.

In Du Kahtawng most of the elderly Kachin ethnic people have no choice but to comply with the USDP demand, because their lives will be in danger if they do not, said Awng Wa.

“They (junta) should give voters freedom to choose who they want to vote for, and the freedom to choose not to vote,” she said.

The USDP has also been conducting advance voting for the party in the Hpakant Jade Land, of Kachin State, for jade miners who are working at companies owned by junta cronies or family members.

However, almost all the jade miners refused to comply with the USDP order by not voting for the USDP, the local source said.

But, the USDP rejected all those votes and ordered miners to vote again, for the party, said a source.

“It is starting, and not only in one place. It will be happening all around the country,” Awng Wa said.

USDP members destroyed the campaign sign of the National Democratic Force (NDF), in Myitkyina.

The NDF candidate in Myitkyina, U Ma Hka, has faced restrictions from authorities while campaigning. Police watched him closely amid tight security while distributing pamphlets.

Last week, the USDP candidate for the People’s Parliament from Bhamo (Manmaw) Township, U Lun Maung, forced thousands of local people to attend an election campaign speech.

The Union Election Commission (UEC) refused permission to the opposition Kachin party and individual candidates to contest in the election, but quickly approved the Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS), which was formed by former members of the USDA.