The Burmese Minister of Forests has urged people to vote for junta-backed parties in the forthcoming elections this year, during a visit to the Village Peace and Development Council's office in Deemawso in Karenni state.

During the trip to Karenni state in July, the Burmese Forest Minister, Oo Thein Aung promised that roads, bridges and halls will be built if junta-backed parties are voted to power, residents said.

"He said that the roads in our villages will be cobbled for one mile and the bridges of the irrigation department will be repaired. Currently, three or four bridges are damaged," a resident said.

One person from each family in the village were reportedly ordered to attend a public meeting addressed by the forest minister, but only 30 villagers from culture groups and head villagers attended, a resident said.

Local sources said, the small attendance means that people do not want to vote for junta-back political parties.

In Karenni State, Dawngakar and Chikel villages from Deemawso Township were known as villages which cast most "no votes “in the 2008 referendum on the constitution.