People must shun yes-men in polls, independent says

Wednesday, 22 September 2010 00:38 Mizzima News

Rangoon (Mizzima) - Burmese people should not vote for candidates who are “yes-men” in the forthcoming election, independent candidate Yan Kyaw said today, in stinging but indirect remarks against his opponents in breach of junta electoral rules banning open criticism.

The candidate who will contest in the Pazundaung Township constituency for the People’s Assembly was taking part as one of 14 independents at a press conference at Traders’ Hotel in Rangoon at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, held to explain the policies behind their contesting of the election.

“People should not vote for candidates who want to bring to life a paper tiger, who want to take a step backwards to dictatorship, who are yes-men and who are hopelessly vague,” Yan Kyaw said.

His comments came despite a rule from the junta’s electoral watchdog, the Union Election Commission, that forbids criticism against competitors. Audience members told Mizzima that they thought his rebukes were directed at the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) candidates and their allies, so they had clapped enthusiastically.

The candidates said that they had decided to contest in the election on November 7 to overthrow the dictatorship.

Former headmaster Tin Aye, who will contest the seat of Lewe in the Naypyidaw Capital Region, said he had been forced to spend the compensation he had received for the seizure of his farmland by the junta, on his campaign.

The list of eligible voters for the election was published on Monday in many wards, but in some, the lists had not yet been released.

Meanwhile, in some wards, local authorities announced they would issue temporary identification (ID) cards for those who were without national ID cards, to allow them to become eligible voters.

Among the 37 political parties, 1,134 candidates of the junta-backed USDP will contest for seats in all assemblies, putting the USDP at the top of the list for numbers of candidates. Following is the National Unity Party, a new incarnation of former dictator Ne Win’s Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), which has 980 candidates. The National Democratic Force (NDF) has 164 candidates and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party has 156 candidates in the running.

The 14 independent candidates:

Yan Kyaw (People’s Assembly candidate for Pazundaung constituency)
Ba Tint Swe (People’s Assembly candidate for North Okkalapa Township constituency)
Kyi Thein Oo (States/Divisions Assembly candidate for North Okkalapa constituency No.2)
Thein Htay (candidate for Thanbyuzayat constituency No. 1)
Zaw Min Thein (States/Divisions Assembly candidate for Lemyethna Township constituency No.1)
Tin Aye (People’s Assembly candidate for Lewe Township)
Kaung Myint Htut (People’s Assembly candidate for South Okkalapa constituency)
Dr. Than Myint (States/Divisions Assembly candidate for Amarapura Township constituency No.1)
Dr. Soe Lwin (People’s Assembly candidate for Lemyethna Township constituency)
Win Ko Ko (States/Divisions Assembly candidate for Thanlyin Township in Rangoon Division constituency No.1)
Dr. Saw Naing (States/Divisions Assembly candidate for South Okkalapa Township constituency No.1)
Than Zaw Oo (People’s Assembly candidate for Dala Township)
Hla Shein (States/Divisions Assembly candidate for Moulmein Township constituency No.1)
Win Cho (States/Divisions Assembly candidate for Dala Township constituency No.1).