Abuse of Government Power

The military regime was involved at multiple levels of the election process. They were responsible for the formation of the Union Election Commission, restrictions on political freedoms, increases in security forces, the creation of regime backed political parties, and forcing voters to support those proxy parties.

Funding was a problematic issue; exorbitant candidate registration fees and campaign costs disadvantaged many non-regime-backed political parties. In contrast, regime backed parties received vast amounts of funding from the regime. The USDP inherited its substantial funds and assets from the USDA, the regime’s mass organization that also operates as a paramilitary body. Regime-backed parties abused the regime’s authority and resources on a large scale, ranging from vote-buying efforts to the involvement of SPDC officials in their local campaigning in the pre election period and on the day of elections. Given the abusive authority of the regime (see intimidation and threats), the involvement of local SPDC in campaign efforts of political parties ensured that these parties had significant, albeit unwilling support of the public.

Sub-Categories
• Abuse of government authority
• Abuse of government resources
• Withholding/manipulating government services
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