Rathidaung: U Thein Maung, nominated as a candidate of the Union Solidarity Development Association party for the Rathidaung constituency, has spent over 100 million kyat in the past three months on his election campaign in the township, report several sources in the township.

However, no one knows where he got such a large sum of money for the campaign.

A former teacher said, "He has spent a lot of money on his election campaign in our township but we don't know how he was able to get the money. The question is whether the money came from the USDA or his own pocket."

U Thein Maung is a former Managing Director of the Myanmar Textile Industries, Ministry of Industry One, and is a native of Buthidaung, near Rathidaung Township. He began his campaign as an independent candidate but has publicized that he will contest the election in Rathidaung as a USDA candidate.

"He has donated at least one million kyat to villages in Rathidaung Township. The largest villages in the township received between two million and five million kyats from him. U Thein Maung's donations are for monasteries, schools, clinics, and the construction of water reservoirs," the teacher said.

Recently, U Thein Maung donated two million kyat for construction of a clinic in Kyauk Tan Village, and three million kyat for construction of a primary school in Zay Di Byin Village in Rathidaung Township. He has made similar donations to over 100 villages in the township during his poll campaign.

"He goes to many villages in a motorboat, from one village to another to mobilize people to support him in the forthcoming election by distributing money. During his trips, he openly asked people to support him in the election. He also told people that if he wins the election, he can develop the township," the source said.

U Thein Maung has also reportedly donated stationary to students as well as clothes, pots, and food to poor people in several villages in the township.

Rathidaung is located 20 miles north of Arakan's state capital, Sittwe, where the National League for Democracy and the Arakan League for Democracy each won one seat in the 1990 election, the results of which were ignored by the junta.

U Thein Maung is a close associate of Industry One Minister U Aung Thaung, and he is contesting the election in Rathidaung on instructions from U Aung Thaung.

In Arakan State, the USDA party and the NUP have been able to campaign freely for the election, even though no election date has been set.

Meanwhile, other parties are still waiting for their approval from the Election Commission to begin campaign in Arakan State.