The Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), popularly known as the White Tiger for its logo, is on a winning streak in more than 50 out of 156 seats it has contested despite heavy and largely forced advance voting drive launched by junta authorities, according to party leader Sai Ai Pao.

Sai Ai Pao himself was elected in Hsenwi township, where the Burmese Army’s Military Operations Command #16 is based. He won a seat for the state house.

“His friends thought he was going against a stacked deck,” said one of the members. “Now all of us are happy.”
According to monitoring by SHAN, the SNDP has so far (09:00 local time) won one  seat in the National Assembly (Amyothu Hluttaw), 10 seats in the People’s Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw) and 18 seats in the State Assembly (Pyi-ne Hluttaw) in 13 townships. It lost all the three seats to junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Mabein (known as Manpiang in Shan) township, Kyaukme district.

There are 55 townships in Shan State. Four townships under the United Wa State Army control were banned, leaving only 51 townships where elections were held. The 13 townships monitored by SHAN are Kyaukme, Nawngkhio, Hsipaw, Namtu, Mongmit, Manpiang, Mongkeung, Laikha, Mongyawng, Muse, Hsenwi, Langkher and Kunhing.

The National Unity Party (NUP) is also doing better than in 1990, where it won only one seat statewide and 10 seats countrywide, by getting three seats in Shan State so far.

Among those that voted for the SNDP included Kachins, Palaungs, Kokangs, Pa Os, Lahus and even Burmese. One Burmese Army unit, Light Infantry Battalion 507, based in Lashio, had reportedly voted for the SNDP at an advance voting. “It was ordered to redo the exercise,” said an army source.