YANGON — A National League for Democracy (NLD) candidate has filed electoral objections against two successful candidates from the military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Shan State’s Monghpyak Township.
The USDP candidates, U Nyunt Win and U Francisco, are accused of malpractices and threatening voters.
The NLD’s candidate, S Mar Gam, also the party’s chairman in Monghpyak, on Monday filed claims that the USDP paid administrators to solicit votes and that the military-backed Namyoon people’s militias transported residents to polling stations, telling them to vote for the USDP.
The candidate said he has voice recordings and other evidence that the militias told residents that, if they wish to live in the area, they must vote USDP otherwise they must leave their homes.
“I have filed complaints about malpractice with the police and election commission,” S Mar Gam said.
He has also filed a complaint against Monghpyak’s election sub-commission secretary, U Aung Myat Soe, for alleged mishandling of the election results forms.
The USDP candidates could not be reached for a comment.
Monghpyak, which includes areas controlled by the Namyoon people’s militia, is a Shan State township where the USDP has secured victories in previous elections. The NLD candidates came second in the Nov. 8 general election in Monghpyak.
In a separate case, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy candidate in the township has been sued for online defamation by the Namyoon militia for posting on Facebook that the USDP won because the armed group solicited its votes.
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