People in Arakan are firm in their belief that the 2010 general elections will be no different from the 2008 May referendum and that the Burmese junta will force people to cast their vote for a pro-government party, said a leader of the Arakan League for Democracy in Rathidaung on condition of anonymity.
"In last year's referendum, the authorities announced over loudspeakers in villages that the regime would punish people with three years in prison if anyone cast a " No" vote in ballot boxes," he said.
The ALD leader said that in the referendum people cast "Yes" votes as they were apprehensive of action by the junta if they cast "No" votes.
"People were helpless and the 2010 elections will take place in the same way as the 2008 referendum," he said.
The authorities are yet to invite politicians to form political parties to contest the 2010 elections but some pro government parties are mobilizing people in Arakan State for support in the polls.
"You can witness the junta's double standards. It has not allowed the NLD and the ALD to engage in politics in Arakan state but it has allowed the UNP, USDA and the Amyo Thar Yi party to campaign," he said.
In Arakan state, some senior members of the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) are mobilizing some rich and educated people to be in the state level committees in the USDA when the organization changes to a political party to contest the 2010 elections.
"I heard some leaders of the USDA in Arakan state will be removed from their positions very soon in a reshuffle where other news leaders will take charge," he said.
The military regime has reportedly planned to form at least five pro-junta political parties to contest the 2010 elections. Three pro military government parties are already preparing for campaigning in Arakan. They are the USDA, NUP and Amyo Thar Yi party.
The ALD leader told Narinjara that the 2010 election is a game, which will be played by the military junta, for the sake of the international community to form a government after elections. It is not meant to restore democracy and it is not for the people. It is only in the interest of the army to legitimize the rule of the junta in Burma.
