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'Anyone but them'
Irrawaddy - October 21, 2010
Hsat Linn, Rangoon – The military regime-sponsored 2010 election in Burma is less than three weeks away. However, millions of voters are yet to hear or see any information related to voting, political parties or democracy. Many people in Burma could not tell you which candidates or parties were running in their township. And even those people familiar with the parties say they don't know who to vote for.
"Anyone but them," is a phrase that has been whispered around the streets and neighborhoods of Rangoon in recent days.
By "them," people are, of course, referring to the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was founded by former military generals, and whose ubiquitous presence is the most evident – if not the only – sign that an election is looming in Burma.
The party's logo of a lion is plastered on walls and lampposts across the country, reminding older voters of the 1990 election when Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy logos – the khamauk [Bamboo Hat] and the khut daung [Fighting Peacock] – all but enveloped the country.
"We only support the khamauk," said Myint Sein, a rickshaw driver in Rangoon's Thaketa Township. "We absolutely reject the USDP."
Myint Sein admits that he hasn't heard of any other party contesting the election other than the USDP, although, he said, one of his fellow rickshaw drivers showed him a leaflet with a bamboo hat on it, though he does not which party that represents.
Myint Sein said he earns about 2,000 kyat (US $2) a day riding rickshaws and cannot afford news journals, and has no time to listen to the radio.
"The USDP has never been good to us. I don't think anyone could be as bad as them," he said, adding that he thinks that if people put their minds together and vote for one party, the military would have to step down and a new government could be formed.
"People feel uncomfortable when they hear the name USDP," said lawyer Aye Lwin. "It has bullied and mistreated people for so many years. It's too late for them to change their image.
"For instance, Yuzana Company Chairman Htay Myint has exploited a lot of people," he added. "He is unpopular on his construction sites and has exploited workers on his palm plantations. Now, he is campaigning around town, making donations and smiling, hoping that people will vote for him. I don't think he will win their support. In the end, he will rely on his favorite tactics – malpractice and intimidation."
An editor who used to work for the owner of The Myanmar Times, Tin Htun Oo, who will contest the election in Rangoon's Pazun Taung Township, told The Irrawaddy a similar story.
"He [Tin Htun Oo] always gave us a much lower salary than other journals," he said. "Now he is donating money in Pazun Taung as an attempt to show that he is working for the township. But people already know what kind of person he is."
Aye Lwin said one of the main reasons why people hate the USDP is the active involvement of the group in the brutal crackdown on Buddhist monks during the September 2007 protests.
"Burma is a Buddhist country. The whole country knows that the USDA members have not only intimidated citizens, but they also beat up monks. Their behavior was unacceptable," he said.
Several sources said that the average voter's hatred of the USDP is driving him or her toward other parties in the election.
A reporter in Rangoon told The Irrawaddy that the sight of crumpled and torn USDP leaflets scattered around the streets of Rangoon is evidence of how much the USDP has won over the general public.
"Ripped up USDP pamphlets can be seen on every street corner in downtown Rangoon," she said. "On the other hand, when people request leaflets from other parties, they generally keep them."
Members of several political parties who consider themselves aligned to the pro-democracy movement said they have been warmly welcomed by people during the election campaign principally because they are competing against the USDP.
A resident of Kungyangone Township in Rangoon Division said the provocative way the USDP forced each household to make one family member join the USDP was the last straw. "People in Rangoon now hate them more than ever," he said.
One taxi driver who spoke to The Irrawaddy said he was incensed at this particular strong-arm tactic and was determined to resist the USDP's bullying.
"Let them come to my house if they are brave enough," he said. "I will kick them back onto the street. By law, they can't do this. I would complain directly to the Union Election Commission. They can only mistreat people who don't know or understand what is happening."
Thein Nyunt, an organizing committee member of the Democratic Party (Myanmar) in Rangoon, said that locals had welcomed them with open arms.
"People offer us water and soft drinks, even while the military intelligence and local authorities are watching. We went door-to-door and people invited us in and asked lots of questions."
Mini Thin Kyaw, another organizer for the Democratic Party (Myanmar), said that although the USDP takes advantage of financial assistance from local authorities, in general people only accept and welcome pro-democracy parties.
"When our chairman, Thu Wai, was campaigning in his constituency, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, USDP members tried to step in our way. But, when they started distributing leaflets, some people refused to take them. Others took them and immediately threw them away." he said.
Under the circumstances, several representatives of pro-democracy parties said they believe they can win the election if there is no vote-rigging at the polls.
"People willingly support us," said Aung Than, the chairman of the Democracy and Peace Party. "They support every party but the USDP. If the Burmese public follow their hearts, I am sure our democratic forces will win the election."
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