Richard Some political parties in Mon State are paying people to join them in their election campaign, but no one except the drunkards is participating, according to local residents.
The military junta will hold the first part of the election on December 28.
The campaign period for candidates for the election is set from October 28 to December 26.
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party and the National Unity Party are paying people to join them in their election campaign, a resident of Hlaing Ward, Mawlamyine Township, told BBM.
“It’s just Union Solidarity and Development Party. They are inviting people to the outskirts of the city to target those who are on the breadline. No one in the city goes there. They are mainly unwilling and afraid.”
He added that the party provides between 8,000 and 13,000 kyats per day for election campaigning, depending on the neighborhood and village they visit, and that the party also arranges food and clothing.
It is reported that not only the two current parties, but also other parties such as the People’s Party, the People’s Pioneer Party and the National Interest Development Party are also inviting people to join them for a day’s work.
“They are inviting people from nearby places. Usually, there are thousands of people during this campaign period, but now there are only tens of people, so the public is not interested, so they are trying to make people interested.From what I have heard, U Ko Ko Gyi and Daw Thet Thet Khaing are also inviting people,” said another Mawlamyine resident.
Some political parties are inviting people to join them in their own way to election campaign, but a woman living in Kyaik Maraw township said that no one is interested except drunkards.
“They also came to my aunt’s house, and there are some who go there, drunkards, people who are not used to living in the community, because they are getting money,and most people are afraid to join in,” she said.
In addition, political parties are not organized, except for some urban areas and some villages where the military junta has strong control.
In Mon State, an independent candidate, the Mon Unity Party, Pa-O National Development Party, Union Solidarity and Development Party, the National Unity Party, the People’s Party, the People’s Pioneer Party, the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (White Tiger Party) and the National Economic and National Development Party are competing, with more than 250 candidates.
Photo: Union Solidarity and Development Party
