Maungdaw, Arakan State: Widespread intimidation of voters and violation of election laws were reported throughout Maungdaw as residents of Arakan State voted in today’s national election.

An organizer of the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD) said officials and candidates of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) forcibly removed NDPD officials from polling stations, where they were to serve as election monitors.

USDP party members also openly urged voters at polling stations to support the Burmese junta-backed party.

The NDPD organizer said that party candidates had been called to a meeting last night on the eve of the election and warned that their party’s candidates could be banned from participating if there were any signs of misconduct by the party.

The organizer added that USDP candidate Aung Zaw Win, contesting for a seat in the Upper House, visited a polling station in State Middle School in Maungdaw and tried to convince voters arriving to cast their ballots for his party, in clear violation of election laws.

Hajee Yousuf, a USDP supporter and the finance officer of the Regional Development Association (RDA), threatened voters in Nyaung Chaung village today by warning them that they could come to harm if they did not cast their votes for the USDP, said an election watchdog group in Maungdaw.

“We complained to the election commissioner about the activities by Hajee Yousuf, but no action was taken against him,” said a local elder from the village.

Tension rose in Nyaung Chang village when voters were issued ballots bearing the lion logo of the USDP party and they asked for alternative ballots.

“They complained to local election officials, but nothing was done,” the elder said.

The election watchdog group also reported that some NDPD supporters in northern Maungdaw were assaulted by security personnel after arriving to cast their votes.

In southern Maungdaw, supervisors’ in-charge of voting booths also urged voters to support the USDP.

“There will be violent clashes after voting is completed because local people are waiting to confront the polling booth officers about why they were trying to get them to vote for the USDP,” said a local teacher from Myint Hlut village.

A politician in Maungdaw said USDP candidates and local authorities have not employed similar tactics against the Rakhine community, which has largely supported the National Unity Party (NUP).