Juri Chai – According to an eyewitness, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) continued their by-election campaign within 500 yards of an active polling station in Moulmein constituency.
The witness said, “About 300 USDP members were wandering around the polling station, prompting voters to support their party this morning.”
On March 29th, it was established that over 230 USDP members from nine townships in Mon State had assembled in Moulmein, delivering pamphlets to each house in the Ward and declaring their strength to organized groups and the general public near polling stations.
“[The out-of-town campaigners] were instructed to cast illegitimate ballots, but some polling stations wouldn’t allow [them to do so],” said U Ko Ko Zaw, the information officer of the NLD.
During a press conference held in his office, the chairman of the Union Election Commission said that his agency would take action against any party reported to be campaigning within 500 yards of a polling station.
According to a press conference, reporters, too, are banned from entering the 500-yard radius around polling stations. Any interviews or photographs taken inside designated voting areas cannot be published, and offending reporters could have legal action brought against them.
