Yesterday, Union Elections Commissioners (UEC) in Naypyitaw recounted vote papers, which were already counted on the elections day of 7 November 2010, of an elected candidate of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) and his defeated rival candidate of junta-party Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Shan State South’s Kunhing Township, according to SNDP’s lawyer.

On 26 January, all township elections commissioners, authorities of polling stations and both sides of the candidates were summoned to Naypyitaw together with ballot boxes in order to be recounted in front of the UEC, said Sao Nang Myawaddy, a lawyer of defender.

“It was emergency call by the central election committee. We did not know for a proper reason why they [the commissioners] called us again. They just said it was to ensure township commissioners and the judges were making right decision,” Sao Nang Myawaddy said.

The action followed USDP candidate Dr. Sai Kham Leng’s lawsuit filed against its rival candidate Sai Mon aka Sai Kyaw Tun of SNDP in December 2010, alleging that Sai Mon won the seat on 7 November, the day of elections, with the help of the ceasefire armed group Shan State Army (SSA) 'North's 7th Brigade and also involved in inappropriate activities in polling booths. The two contested at state legislature of Kunhing’s constituency No. 1.

In fact, the case has already been dismissed and announced by the election court on 19 January that Dr. Sai Kham Leng lost the lawsuit due to lack of proper evidence.

On the day of elections, defendant Sai Mon won over petitioner Dr. Sai Kham Leng with over 2345 out of 4,378 total votes.

“It was Sai Mon again who won the case with over 2,301 votes even though they [the commissioners] took out 44 votes as invalid votes,” the lawyer said.

Yet again there are two other cases being filed against elected SNDP’s candidates in Kachin State’s Moemawk township by the USDP for electoral fraud as well. The cases will be decided upon a similar procedure as that of Sai Mon.