The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which thrives with the backing of the Burmese military junta, has been forcing youths over 18 to become members in a bid to ensure that the party is victorious in the forthcoming general election.

A fee of 1000 Kyat is being charged by the USDP per member, said residents in Karenni State.

A member, who perforce enrolled in the USDP, said that they are yet to get membership cards.

"We enrolled earlier, but we did not receive the membership card.  Their idea is expand and develop the USDP. We have to pay 1,000 Kyat for a membership."

According to a villager in Deemawso Township, even though villagers did not want to be a USDP member the party forced residents to enroll. Its priority in the coming months is ensuring victory in the election.

"Some people are reluctant to become USDP members but they are being forced to. They [USDP] ordered everyone, so all families have to enroll as members. If there are no boys in a family the girls have to enroll as members."

"We do not know much about the organization is, but we have to do as ordered. Some from Loikaw, Deemawso and Thaysole were ordered to register as members of the USDP," he added.

USDP has been pressurizing the headmen of villages to order their people to become members. The villagers have no choice and have to do the bidding because of their livelihood and security.

Sources said that during the past few months many youths and USDP members from Loikaw and Deemawso have begun poll campaign in the villages.

The former Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein and senior officials of the junta transformed the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) into a political party called the USDP on April 29, to contest the election later this year. The party is being led by Thein Sein.