People in Shan State South’s Pa-O self-administered zone are reportedly being forced to vote for the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) by party candidates, local sources reported.

On 19 October, U Nay Win Htun, a well-known businessman-turned-candidate for the upper house in the Pa-O self- administered zone was reported to have directed local people in Pongae village tract in Hopong that everyone must vote for the party, otherwise each villager will be asked to pay Kyat 50,000 ($50), according to a villager whose relatives are PNO members.

“He told us when we attended a religious service at the Pongae monastery that we have to vote for only his party,” the villager said. “His behaviour was no different from the junta - they are threatening people either directly or indirectly.  However we had to keep quiet because it is they who have power,” he said.

Apart from Pongae, similar reports have been received from other areas in Loilem township, where a sizeable population of Pa-O live.

The border-based Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO) also admitted that people in some areas were being forced to vote for either the party or for the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

PNO, the former ceasefire group, will be competing in the Hopong constituency, which is impacted by the Pinpet iron project of the junta. But the party has not raised any public concerns against the project even though it will contest in the areas, said PYO spokesperson Khun Chan Khe.

“The project is destroying the future of the people. If they are contesting the election, the PNO should protect local people’s rights and speak out to oppose the project,” said Khun Chan Khe.

The PNO plans to compete mainly in the Pa-O self-administered zone, as stipulated in the junta drawn 2008 constitution: Panglawng, Hopong and Hsihseng townships. On the other hand, it was reported to have been helping the USDP in canvassing support in Taunggyi and Loilem townships.

Given its cooperation with the USDP, it has been dubbed as one of the USDP’s proxy parties. Apart from it, Kokang Democracy and Unity Party (KDUP), Wa Democratic Party (WDP) and TNP (Ta-ang National Party) in Shan State North and Lahu National Development Party (LNDP) in Shan State East have also been named as USDP’s proxy parties.