NLD
- Myanmar
In “army town” Pyin Oo Lwin, NLD hopes for victory
Voting was brisk in the hotly-contested constituency of PyinOoLwin in Mandalay Region on Sunday, where opposition candidates are mounting a strong challenge to ruling party dominance in the military academy town. National League for Democracy (NLD) candidates hope to beat the region’s powerful chief minister Ye Myint and other ruling party contenders as public discontent over issues such as land grabbing runs high. Concerns remain, however, over whether the thousands of soldiers stationed here will be able to vote freely. The NLD’s Dr. Khin Maung Htay, who is running against Ye Myint for a regional parliament seat, said that among approximately 150,000 registered voters in PyinOoLwin Township there are some 13,000 soldiers. “Maybe 3,000 of them could support the NLD,” he estimated, adding that it was unclear if soldiers and their families would come under pressure from commanders to vote for the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The opposition has flagged this as an issue in many constituencies across Myanmar with military bases. In PyinOoLwin, the former colonial hill station, there are a number of bases and institutions, including the Defence Services Academy, an officers’ school that has long produced the country’s military elite. Khin Maun Htay said…
- Myanmar
Ruling USDP commands shy support in Myanmar’s elections
Twenty-two-year-old Lu Zaw took a day’s leave from his office job this week to join a political rally of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, but found it hard to explain his instinctive loyalty to Myanmar’s ruling party. His uncle is a senior party campaigner, recruiting new members for USDP in Yangon’s Thinganggyun Township. Lu Zaw said he was taking part in the rally, not at the behest of his uncle, but by his own volition, despite the fact that political rallies were not his favourite scene. As Myanmar prepares for historic elections on Sunday, a vote that the opposition National League for Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi is widely expected to win, there are still many loyal to the ruling party. Led by former general Thein Sein, the USDP’s semi-civilian government has steered the Southeast Asian nation through a series of economic and political reforms since it came to power in 2011, ending half a century of military rule. “Even if the whole country supports NLD, I will vote for USDP,” said Lu Zaw. USDP rallies, with supporters decked in the party’s colour green, seem to lack the zeal and spontaneity of campaign events organized by Suu Kyi’s…
- Myanmar
Amending the constitution? We’ll try our best
Mi Kon Chan comes from a distinguished family in Mon state in eastern Myanmar. Her father is the vice -chairman of the Mon National Party, Naing Thet Lwin. Yet she is running for a Lower House seat in the Nov. 8 elections as a representative of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Myanmar Now reporter Phyo Thiha Cho spoke to the former businesswoman, Mi Kon Chan used to run a company distributing cosmetic products from abroad, on the campaign trail in Mon State about why she eschewedher father’s party and her political aspirations. Question – As the daughter of a Mon political leader, why are you running for the NLD? Answer – I have not been part of my father’s party from the start. I would assist him when needed. That’s all. I’ve been steadfastly working on the issues concerning Mon people. If we want the country to change, all the ethnic groups should get involved. We are helping to create a federal union. This is not about getting a high position, nor is it also to attack or compete with our own people. We don’t plan to make enemies in the future either. Q – There are three…
- Myanmar
Beyond NLD, Yangon voters stumped on smaller parties
It’s the National League for Democracy or nothing, according to a straw poll of voters in Yangon townships carried out with four weeks to go before Myanmar’s Nov. 8 election. Myanmar Now carried out dozens of interviews in three townships in the commercial capital Yangon to gauge the public’s mood and political inclinations. Among 45 people interviewed in Hlaing Tharyar, Mingalar Taung Nyunt and Thingangyun constituencies, 29 said they intend to vote for Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD, although for varying reasons. Strikingly, the remainder of those who did not have a clear preference for the NLD said they had little interest in voting or the elections in general. In comments that would worry independent candidates and those from smaller parties, almost all were unaware of other political parties beyond the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the opposition NLD. Only four interviewees said they would decide who to vote for after scrutinising the candidates. The interviews in the three constituencies – where around half a million voters have been registered so far, according to Union Election Commission officials – provide a snapshot of the public’s perceptions and aspirations ahead of what has been billed as Myanmar’s first…
