violations of election laws

According to a resident in Magwe Division, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was campaigning in Minbu and Yaynanchaung Townships in Mague Division. The USDP persuaded local people by lending money and providing recommendations for those who wanted to travel, and recruiting new party members with 1500 kyat each for a membership fee.

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A resident, from Mogaung, Kachin State, stated that no campaign activities of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) and National Unity Party (NUP) were seen in Kachin State, but only Union Solidarity and development Party (USDP) has been canvassing unrivaled and received full support and cooperation from local authorities.

From New Era Journal: www.khitpyaingnews.org (Site disabled before 2010 elections).

An official from Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) stated that even though military regime authorities and many different levels of the election commissions hinder ethnic political parties in states, they help support the campaigns of USDP.

NDD Weekly Political Events
http://burmapartnership.org/2010elections/2010/08/weekly-political-event...

Junta party, election officials coerce votes in advance
Tuesday, 02 November 2010 02:23 Salai Han Thar San

New Delhi (Mizzima) – As the junta’s electoral watchdog collects absentee votes, members of the party the regime is backing in national elections on Sunday are visiting homes in some Rangoon townships to coerce people to vote for them in advance, according to residents.

Last week in Mudon and Ye Townships, Mon State, the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) directed all village headman to prepare the polling booth stations by collecting 1000 kyat per villager’s home.

Someone close to south Mudon Townships’ village headman said, they will collect the money to buy a table, chair, and curtains for the polling station.

“They have to prepare the polling station themselves,” said a TPDC member close to the village headmen.

Junta party, election officials coerce votes in advance
Tuesday, 02 November 2010 02:23 Salai Han Thar San

New Delhi (Mizzima) – As the junta’s electoral watchdog collects absentee votes, members of the party the regime is backing in national elections on Sunday are visiting homes in some Rangoon townships to coerce people to vote for them in advance, according to residents.

Burma’s supreme election authority is ignoring complaints about a pro-junta party that continues to campaign beyond the set deadline, an opposition party has said.

A candidate for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which is led by Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein, was allegedly seen canvassing in several wards in Arakan state capital Sittwe in recent days.

The opposition Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) said it had filed a complaint to the Election Commission (EC), which was hand-picked by the junta, who dismissed the claims.

A government employee from Ye Township in Mon State, who participated in making a list of eligible voters, stated that in many townships, authorities were instructed to include at least one person from government departments and the military regime’s proxy organizations such as Union Solidarity and Development Association, in the voting list for the upcoming elections. As well as from the regime’s patronized organizations such as Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation, The Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, Militia, Swanahshin (People’s Power Organization), Red Cross, Fire