Mya Nyein, vice speaker of the Upper House, said the National League for Democracy’s iconic red flags “would not cover” Rangoon Division and only the green of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) would prevail.
Mya Nyein told a crowd at Thuwunna Stadium, Rangoon, on 10 October: “Green symbolises the development of the country and it means being pleasant. If one wants to know what red means, go to the Martyrs’ Mausoleum, which was blown up by explosives. The bomb blast ripped through it on 9 October 1983. Zin Bo and two others attacked the mausoleum with explosives. What happened to the Martyrs’ Mausoleum? What colour appeared?” The crowd chanted ‘red’ in response.
Mya Nyein was referencing the 1983 bombing carried out by North Korean agents in an attempt to kill the then South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan.
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“We must win in the election. If the votes are cast for the party with the ‘lion logo’, we will win.”
He told an audience that included Myint Swe, chief minister of Rangoon Division, that the USDP’s poverty reduction and rural development policies had been introduced while a multiparty democracy had been established during its tenure.
“We have carried out many ‘greening’ projects. We contributed 30 million kyat [US$23,500] to every village to be spent on rural development. The country’s power derives from the people. For that reason, elections and parliamentary sessions emerged,” Mya Nyein said.
Mya Nyein is hoping to represent Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Kayan and Thongwa in the Upper House.
Than Htut Aung, CEO of Eleven Media Group, said that the comparison between the NLD red and the Martyrs’ Mausoleum could be interpreted as a threat to the Suu Kyi.
“The colour red has nothing to do with the bomb blast at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum. It can be supposed that Mya Nyein was indirectly threatening the security of [opposition leader] Aung San Suu Kyi. For that reason, the Union Election Commission and the international community will have to take action. The USDP must give an explanation and take action.”