Keng Tung

Under the electoral laws, advance voting should be limited to people unable to vote on election day and the voting should be conducted in secret—two regulations which were violated blatantly across the country by USDP members and election officials.

Observers noted that an official period for advance voting was called by the authorities in Burma for Nov. 5 and 6; however, they have said that many advance votes were cast outside that official time frame as no common procedures appear to have been adhered to.

This Mizzima News video documents the lack of voter education in ethnic areas even in early November, merely days before the elections. The reporter asked local Amm ethnic vilalgers who they would vote for the coming election, who simply replied “We didn’t know anything about this yet”.

The video notes how local ethnic villagers were given party leaflets in Burmese, which the villagers could not read. Further, their village leader failed to explain the elections to the people.

According to a local, USDP membership recruiting campaign began on 15 May in Namkam Township, northern Shan State. USDP members had to recruit at least 50 members each from every ward of the township.

www.shanland.org