USDP Splashes Out on Flashy Rally in Arakan State Skip to main content

USDP Splashes Out on Flashy Rally in Arakan State

RANGOON — The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) splashed out on a raucous rally in western Burma’s Arakan State on Monday, with just days left to spend campaign cash before a Nov. 8 general election.
Locals in Kyaukphyu told The Irrawaddy that the rally’s estimated thousands of attendees were given cash-in-hand to party with parliamentary hopefuls, which entailed musical performances complete with scantily clad models.
A USDP candidate for the state parliament, Thaung Win, said some 7,000 people were invited from more than 30 villages, but denied that they were offered money to attend. The candidate explained that villagers were provided with transportation and a small stipend for their lunch.
“We can’t cook for them, so we provided cash, accommodation and vehicles,” Thaung Win said. “We only paid them 1,000 kyat [US$0.78] for lunch.”
Some participants claimed, however, that party members were given between 3,000 and 5,000 kyat, while unaffiliated observers received 1,000. Locals estimated that about 2,000 people showed up for Monday’s event.
Administrators in Malakyun, Kalabar and Gone Chwin all said that roughly 50 to 60 people from each village accepted the transport and lunch fee to attend the rally, commensurate with the overall attendance estimate if 30 villages had in fact been invited.
One of five models hired to entertain crowds at a USDP rally in Arakan State on Nov. 2, 2015.
(Tun Tun Naing / Facebook)
Despite the draw of a free ride and a crisp banknote, some villagers took issue with what they saw when they arrived at the Kyaukphyu golf course, where the event was held. Photos of nearly half a dozen models in provocative attire quickly went viral on social media sites, arousing equal parts interest and condemnation.
One resident, Tun Tun Naing, remarked that “the USDP’s dignity dives into a dirty ditch,” while another, Zaw Myo, was left utterly confounded.
“I don’t know how to describe that campaign,” he said, seemingly at a loss for words.
The ostentatious event came as the USDP faces numerous allegations of vote-buying throughout the nation, though no official complaints have been made against the party in Arakan State, where it faces fierce competition from the popular Arakan National Party (ANP).
A total of 17 parties and 362 candidates will compete for Arakan’s 64 state and Union constituencies in the Nov. 8 poll.

http://www.irrawaddy.org/election/news/usdp-splashes-out-on-flashy-rally-in-arakan-state
 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera

The Life Story of A Distinguished And Outstanding Bhikkhu The Most Venerable Saradawpharagree Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera The Buddhist missionary Saradaw Ashin U Chandramani was endowed with great gifts and led a famous and long life. He was a very well known, distinguished and outstanding Bhikkhu Mahathera. While living in the Kushinagar Monastery, a place close to where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana, the Government of India had offered, and he had accepted, the highest, most honourable and respected title "Guru Guru MahaGuru". He became the first ever President of all Buddhists in India.A World Buddhist Conference took place in Kathmandu during the reign of King Mahindra of Nepal. The Conference was very well attended by over one hundred thousand Buddhists from various parts of the world and it was opened by King Mahindra himself. As requested by the King, Saradawpharagree blessed all the participants with the power of Triple Gems...
Post a Comment
Read more

Yangon’s Hero, Wielding Power of Stop and Go

By THOMAS FULLER NOV. 21, 2014 Sgt. Khin Myint Maung directing cars in Myanmar’s largest city, where his accolades are also an indictment of others’ corruption. Credit Tomas Munita for The New York Times YANGON, Myanmar — For 12 hours nearly every day, Sgt. Khin Myint Maung stands in one of the most chaotic intersections in this chronically gridlocked city, untangling traffic snarls with patience and unflagging good humor. It is not the most likely résumé for a recipient of a hero of the year award from a leading daily newspaper, or designation as a “role model” officer by the Yangon police force or a “real-life hero” by a German foundation. But the 26-year-old from the provinces, only recently promoted to sergeant, has earned all those awards, rising to fame purely by word of mouth. It is nearly impossible to find a taxi driver in Yangon who does n...
Post a Comment
Read more

Three Dead, Seven Injured by Artillery Shells in Two Incidents in Myanmar’s Mrauk-U

By MIN AUNG KHINE 2 December 2019 Sittwe, Rakhine State –Three Mrauk-U township residents died and four others were injured when an artillery shell struck their community in the Ale Zay quarter of Mrauk-U town on Monday afternoon after 4 p.m. A month-old girl, a 4-year-old boy and a 30-year-old woman died, according to Dr. Khin Maung Yin, the head of Mrauk-U hospital. He said, “A man and three other women were injured. One of the women sustained severe injures to her left leg and her right knee was dislocated. The injured will be operated on.” Details of what occurred were not yet known. A few hours earlier, three civilians were injured when an artillery shell fell on the village of Na Leik in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State, western Myanmar, on Monday at around 1 p.m., according to Yan Aung Pyin village-tract administrator U Sein Hla Aung. Two females, aged 13 and 27, and an 18-year-old male were injured in the incident, he said. Three people were hit by shrapnel and we have...
Post a Comment
Read more