Muscle flexing was in evidence when U Thein Sein, Chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) told party members in Shan State North during a recent visit that the party already has a way to deal with rival parties, sources from the Sino-Burma border said.

“There is no need to worry,” Thein Sein was reported to have told USDP candidates at a meeting in Lashio, capital of northern Shan State, on receiving reports that the party’s chances were slim.

From October 17 to 19, Thein Sein undertook a whirlwind tour of Lashio, Muse, Namkham, Kutkhai and Hsipaw townships.

Local USDP members told him that the odds were 50:50 in Lashio for the party’s candidates and even less than that where the ethnic-based parties, especially the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), were clearly in the lead.

“There are several ways to deal with the situation,” he was reported as saying. “The easiest would be to accuse them of conniving with illegal armed groups.”

“The junta can be likened to the wolf in one of Aesop’s fables, who was making up one accusation after another against a lamb in order to justify its killing,” another source commented.  

The SNDP had lodged a complaint with the Union Election Commission (UEC) for a similar charge made against them by USDP candidates last month, but was rejected because it was unable to produce evidence.

On 26 May, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), political wing of the anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ released a statement that it would not “support and recognize” the upcoming 2010 elections that was based on the 2008 constitution drawn by Naypyitaw.

In addition, it said, “The RCSS is also against new parties being set up to contest the elections”

The first source was also concerned about the possibility of the junta linking the SNDP to SSA “North” whose Third and Seventh brigades have already agreed to become junta-backed militia units. “It’s true they have become militias,” he said. “But they still act like an independent armed force. I fear they are greatly in danger of becoming junta scapegoats.”

The SSA “North” leaders Sao Loimao and Sao Gaifa, especially the latter, are said to be close to the SNDP.