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NLD files complaint; rival parties decry ‘unfairness’

Police in Pegu Division’s Thanutbin township are investigating an allegation filed by the National League for Democracy (NLD) against the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)’s Regional Parliamentary Representative who is said to have interfered with voting during the 1 April by-elections.

Zaw Linn Oo, ballot station monitor in Thanutbin’s Minywar village for the NLD’s People’s Parliamentary candidate Myit Oo, said police have been investigating an allegation filed by the NLD. According to the opposition party, the USDP’s Waw township representative Aung Naing was campaigning inside the ballot station on 1 April.

“Minywar police officials are investigating the case – they’ve taken photographs of the scene and questioned several people,” said Zaw Linn Oo.

According to the NLD’s ballot monitor, Aung Naing came into the polling station and started shaking people’s hands and introducing himself.

“We reminded him of the election laws and regulations and he responded, ‘so what would you do? I am a parliamentary representative and you can try suing me with whatever law you wish,’” said Zaw Linn Oo

The ballot station’s security officials asked the USPD representative to leave after the argument.

While the NLD’s case is being investigated rival parties issued their own statement’s concerning the main opposition’s party’s behaviour during the election.

Chairman of the Unity and Peace Party Ohn Lwin said the NLD utilised unfair tactics to secure their win during a press conference last Friday in Rangoon jointly held with the Myanmar National Congress and the National Political Alliance League parties.

“The polls were free but not necessarily fair,” said Ohn Lwin. “[Aung San Suu Kyi] was [courted] by the president, the parliamentary speaker and also foreign government leaders as well as television channels – this pushed her to the top of the game but crippled other parties. Should this repeat during the 2015 [polls], it would be very discouraging for us.”

Representatives from the parties said the purpose of the press conference was to prevent such circumstances from reoccurring in the 2015 general elections and not to file charges against the NLD.

 

Reporting by Shwe Aung and Aye Nai

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