The Ta'ang National Party’s (TNP) three election signboards were destroyed in Mongkai Township on September 18, said Mong Num Han, Chair of the TNP. Sai Aung Myint Oo, an upper house candidate from the SNLD said: “On September 22, the party’s signboard was destroyed in Thantae village-tract in Taunggyi Township”

Many parties have complained that their election posters have been attacked during this month including The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the Ta'ang National Party (TNP), the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD).

The NLD’s election signboards in Thibaw Township of the northern Shan State were destroyed twice in September. The NLD has lodged a complaint to the Union Election Commission and the police station, said U Thura Saw Thein, a member of the central committee in Shan State. In addition, the SNDP’s election signboard was destroyed in Thibaw Township on September 21.

 

MP Nam San San Aye of the SNLD wrote on her Facebook: “It needs to compete in the election fairly and bravely. The SNLD will never get involved in such acts. The party will make an investigation into the destruction of the party’s two signboards in Thibaw Township.”

An official of the Shan State Election Sub-Commission said: “Up to September 24, the sub-commission has not received any complaint about the destruction of election signboards.”          

It is not clear whether these attacks are carried out by vandals, party zealots, or other forces hostile to the democratic process.