A local candidate for the National League for Democracy (NLD) said he is anticipating a hard fight against the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the upcoming polls in Karen State’s Papun [Hpa-pun] Township, due to its large military population.
Saw Zaw Win, the NLD party’s Lower House candidate in Papun, said it will be tough to win votes from military servicemen based in the town.
“According to the initial voter list announced, there were a little over 3,000 eligible civilian voters in Papun, but the list of military voters is yet to be announced. Four army battalions and one military operation centre command are based in the town with an estimated 2,000 servicemen. With the addition of votes from civil servants, we might struggle to compete against the USDP and other contending parties,” said Saw Zaw Win.
He added concerns that the situation would be similar in nearby Kamamaung sub-township, where two Border Guard Force Units are based.
Contesting the Papun Lower House seat are: National Union Party (NUP), Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, NLD, and ruling USDP.
Burma will go to the polls on 8 November.
USDP candidate Sai Than Naing won the Lower House seat with 5,185 votes in Papun in 2010. His only rival, NUP candidate Aye Thein, collected 2,959 votes.
Read more about the 2015 election.
