24 July 2010: The Burmese military junta’s administrative machinery, the Tiddim Township Peace and Development Council is collecting money forcibly from local people in Tidim town upper Chin state western Burma, for setting up polling booths for the 2010 general elections.

The Tiddim TPDC claimed that the collection was ordered by the Chin State District Peace and Development Council (DPDC). They are demanding money from locals to purchase seals and banners and other election paraphernalia.

A villager from Zimpui told Khonumthung News that Tiddim TPDC had called a meeting of all clerks in each Block Peace and Development Council (BPDC) and had asked each clerk in all village tracts to bring in Kyat 16,500 from their respective locations.

“TPDC authorities have already deducted the money from the salaries of the clerks and it will be reimbursed from money collected from local people,” he said.

During the elections, there will be three persons – the voting booth chairman, general secretary and a card provider and they will have their own seal. Banners will be displayed in each polling booth.

“Donation of Kyat 16,500 from our village tract Zimpui and Zimte were submitted to the authorities last Sunday,” he added.

There are total of 59 village tracts group and each group will have two to three polling booths in Tiddim Township.