Migrant workers in the fishery sector in Kyuak Pru, the second largest city in Arakan, are being pressurized by the USDP to join the party if they want to stay in the town permanently with permission of the local ward council, said a youth.

He said the USDP leaders in Kyauk Pru pressured the migrant workers through the ward administration council to join the USDP, luring them with the promise of permanent permission to stay in the town.

In Kyuak Pru, all visitors from outside town have to get permission to stay on a 15-day temporary pass issued by the local ward council, known as Rayaka. Every visitor has to go to the appropriate ward council offices in Kyuak Pru twice a month to apply for the 15-day temporary pass.

"No visitor in our town wants to stay with temporary permission, so they joined the USDP for a permanent permission," the youth said.

According to a local source, not only migrant workers in the fishery sector, but also those from construction sites and beauty parlours have joined the USDA to get permanent permission to stay in Kyauk Pru.

The town of Kyauk Pru is now bustling with many government projects including construction of a deep sea port and gas and oil pipelines to China's Yunnan Province. Many workers around Burma have moved to the town for work.

"In the past, people from around Burma came to our town to work in the fishery sector, but now many people come to our town to work in other sectors like construction, tourism, and beauty parlours. I think over 5,000 visitors are staying in our town right now," the youth added.

The USDP needs the votes of migrant workers in the ensuing election and has been mobilizing them to join the party with the promise of permanent passes to reside in Kyuak Pru.

The USDP is now a political party contesting the forthcoming election, but the party still has considerable influence among government officials and the ward and village council still follow the orders of USDP authorities.