The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) began distributing election campaign T-shirts to trishaw drivers and day labourers in Maungdaw following a meeting yesterday, said a member of a local election watchdog group.

The meeting was organized by the Regional Development Association (RDA) of Maungdaw and convened between 2pm and 4pm.

USDP candidates delivered speeches urging the trishaw drivers and day labourers to support the government-backed party and promised to work for the benefit of the people of Maungdaw, said a labourer who attended the meeting.

“It was good that I attended the meeting. I got a T-shirt, which will help me in my work. But it has a lion logo on it, which many local people don’t like to see,” the labourer said.

He added that the USDP also arranged a performance of traditional music by the popular singer Shah Alam.

The member of the election watchdog group also said RDA member Azimul Ullah had begun collecting the names of individuals who have criticized USDP candidates.

A list was handed over to Aung Zaw Win, a USDP candidate with close ties to Burma’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), who issued warnings to people on the list that if they did not support the party, they would face difficulties following the national elections scheduled for November 7.

Numerous reports have surfaced in Maungdaw charging the USDP of using the power and influence of the SPDC to coerce voters to support the party by threats and intimidation.