RANGOON — Following a sweeping victory in the polls on Sunday, the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has urged supporters to avoid major celebrations until after all election results have been declared by the Union Election Commission (UEC).
In a statement released on Wednesday, the party warned that too much enthusiasm for the party could inadvertently lead to chaos.
“According to information that we received, there was a huge purchase of the party’s red T-shirts with party logos last week at local markets. While we are waiting for the official results of the poll, a group of people wearing the shirts could create problems,” the statement read.
“Based on that, bigger problems can arise from small ones. We want to inform the public that all those wearing party T-shirts with the logo, party headbands, putting party stickers on their faces or carrying NLD tote bags might not be NLD members.”
While there may be people who are happy with the election outcome, the statement continued, others could be displeased and make attempts to stir up discord. For security reasons, the NLD urged supporters to remain alert and avoid all conflict.
Suu Kyi’s party claimed a major victory on Sunday after decades of being politically sidelined by the former junta and its military-backed successors. The party said it had secured more than 75 percent of seats in the Union Parliament, granting it the power to select the next government.
While the results are known, they are not yet official until they are publicly declared by the UEC.
In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, Suu Kyi remarked that the poll—the first since the 2011 start of a transition to democracy—was largely free but not fair, and there were “areas of intimidation” along the way.
