Taungup: Many Taungup residents, who had participated in demonstrations against the military junta in the past were unable to vote in the election today because their names were struck off the voters list, said a politician.

"Some activists in our town were taken off the voters list because they demonstrated against the military regime in the past, particularly during the Saffron Revolution," he said.

The authorities announced yesterday night through a mobile loudspeaker that anyone whose name was not on the voters list would not be allowed to vote.

"Some people lost their right to vote in the election. The authorities removed them from the voters list because they are against the USDP. Most of the democracy activists and NLD members have been excluded from the voters list," the source said.

However, members of the NLD have not filed any complaints with the Election Commission about the issue because they are boycotting the election.

A youth belonging to the NLD said, "We have no problem despite the authorities removing our name from the voters list. The election is neither free nor fair and our party is not in the election fray. So we do not care that our names have been removed from the voters list."

The town of Taungup is at the forefront of the democracy movement and has seen many protests against the military government. Only two parties - the USDP and NUP - are contesting in today's election in the Taungup constituency.