A woman member of the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) was reportedly assaulted by 10 female supporters of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) after an altercation broke out in the Kon Yeik Village marketplace in
Chaungzone Township, Mon State.
The argument that began on the morning of January 13 was reportedly fueled by disputes regarding recent election results. Witnesses described a verbal fight between AMDP member Mi Aye and one USDP member that escalated to an exchange of slaps, at which point 9 other USDP supporters joined in the physical assault.
“In the 2015 election, the AMDP representative won [a seat in the state parliamentary race]. But, when the election for the village administrator was held [on January 8], the [USDP] won it. When the AMDP won, they celebrated their victory. Now, the USDP won the [local] election, so they also organized a victory event. The dispute began from that, ” said Nai Myint Swe, a member of the village administration committee.
A criminal case has been filed with the township police and case details submitted to the State Hluttaw (parliament) Chairman and lawmakers, the township administration office, and township-level USDP office.
“Now, [the USDP] filed a suit. Our side also filed a lawsuit demanding that they [USDP supporters] settle the problem for the victim,” said State Hluttaw Representative Dr. Aung Naing Oo, who added that no arrests had been on the day of the assault.
The victim was sent first to the local Chaungzone Hospital on the day of the incident but was later transferred to Moulmein Hospital in the state’s capital.