The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has been mobilizing urban and rural people in villages and townships in Karen state in myriad ways to garner votes.

USDP has hired organizers to conduct election campaign and they are mobilizing local people in Karen state since August.

"The USDP party hires campaign organizers on daily wages. The organizers need to send the list of people to USDP's township committee after their campaign trip," a Pa-an local told KIC.

Organizers who can speak Karen language fluently are being hired on daily wages of 3,000 Kyat per day in Karen State.

"USDP hired me for the party's campaign trip to Shaw Taw village. I  went together with other organizers on a daily wage of 3,000 Kyat. I am unemployed so I accepted this job," an organizer from Pa-an township said.

When they arrive in a village for poll campaign, they have to inform the village headman that they are from the USDP. After which they begin campaign with the village headman’s permission, an organizer said.

"There are five to 10 organizers in a group and a team leader. We distribute application forms filling out the ID number of the applicant and the bio-data in the form. Then we collect a passport size photograph of the applicant. We have to try and recruit them. Extra application forms are handed back to the USDP," he added.

Such campaign on daily wages only occurs in villages but not in downtown Pa-an city, a Pa-an local said.

"USDP hires organizers, who can speak Karen language fluently. Some Karen villagers support the party because organizers are also Karen and speak to villagers in the Karen language. There are few educated people in villages so they believe whatever organizer's say. Party organizers dare not organize in downtown Pa-an because people will not believe what they say,” he said.

Staffs members from the Population and Immigration Department have issued identity cards to local people in exchange for their votes in Hlaing Bwe township in Karen State. The staff travelled to village to issue ID cards to local people, a family member of a staff said.

"When I arrived at the immigration office for my ID card, I saw immigration officers issuing temporary ID cards to people who support USDP. Officers asked me to become an USDP member. If one becomes an USDP member, officers help them get ID cards," a girl from Pa-an said.

Party members have campaigned in Pha Pun Township and urged locals to vote. They promised to work for development of the area.

"USDP members came to Pha Pun and urged us to vote in the election. They said that if their party wins they will work for development of the area. They will construct roads for better transportation and will arrange for better irrigation system," a local said.

So far, the party has campaigned in Shwe Taw, Kaw Waru, Maikan, Tawon Phanya, and Naung Ka Myaing villages in Karen State.