NLD Slams Army Barracks Campaign Snub

A boy wearing the colours of the National League for Democracy

waves at party chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi. (Photo: Reuters)

The National League for Democracy (NLD) candidate for Rangoon's Mayangone Township has complained that she has been prohibited from campaigning for the upcoming by-elections at her local military barracks.

May Win Myint told The Irrawaddy that she was not allowed inside the barracks of the 435 or 436 infantry battalions based in the township with her campaign team as it was a “security matter.”

“I tried to get inside quarters eight and nine where the infantry battalions were based for the campaign but the authorities would not allow it,” she said. “So I just left pamphlets at the gates of the barracks and the security told me that they would distribute them to the soldiers.

“They said it was a problem regarding security.”

Instead, May Win Myint's campaign team waited at a market outside the barracks where family members of army personnel went shopping in the morning. They then handed out NLD campaign material and spoke about their policies there instead.

According to the township's Election Commission, all members of army families have to vote in advance on March 30 and 31 at the commission office.

Dr. Saw Naing, who participated as an independent candidate during the 2010 general elections, said soldiers and their families are independent voters so political parties should have a chance to campaign and speak to them.

“It's not fair that May Win Myint cannot enter the barracks and campaign there as she has that right by law,” he said.

Mayangone Township has been the subject of many irregularities concerning the April 1 poll, with the names of dead people as well as those too young to participate discovered on the voting register.

It is widely thought that civil servants and army personnel will be heavily encouraged to vote for the military-backed ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party who's leadership mainly consists of ex-generals.

There are more than 130,000 people on the voter registration list in Mayangone Township with 177 polling stations.

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