12 November 2010: Dr. Ro Uk, the USDP candidate has won from Matupi township constituency, in Chin state, after promising villagers Kyat 20 lakhs before the election in Burma, local people have alleged.

Lailenpi villagers had demanded Kyat 20 lakhs for casting votes for the USDP candidate last October during campaign. Dr. Ro Uk had promised to give them Kyat 20 lakhs on the spot and he got 800 votes on election day.

“The USDP’s candidate had not only promised to give Kyat 20 lakhs to Lailenpi village, but also promised people in Sayai, Sabawngpi and Sabawngte villages in Matupi township where Mara people live,” said a local.

However, he added that he had no knowledge whether the cash was paid to the villagers till date.

Similarly, USDP candidates in Lirim and Auhla villages had taken many ballot papers from the villagers and cast votes on the villager’s behalf. The villagers agreed to it because the candidates told them that it was the only way they could go to church freely on Sunday November 7, else they would have to line up at the polling station and would not be able to attend church.

“We reported this to the Election Commission, but the commission did not take any action,” said a member of the NDF party.

NDF’s candidate U Shwe Thang got 5900 votes for People’s Parliament, while USDP’s candidate Dr. Ro Uk got 3743 votes, but unfortunately U Shew Thang lost because of advance voting, a government employee said.

“All advance votes went automatically to USDP," she added.

The president of the Block Peace and Development Council said, “We could not use the opportunity of the polls and we have to continue with our pottering job.”