USDP offering new roads for votes

Tuesday, 27 July 2010 13:08 Khai Suu

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Furthering an ongoing trend, political parties aligned with Burma’s military regime are continuing to try and secure votes for this year’s forthcoming general election through the promise public works projects.

The junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Dawpon Township of Rangoon Division has been seen trying to recruit party members and win votes through the promise of newly paved roads, according to local people.

USDP representatives are telling people the party will build and pave roads in return for enlistment in the party and securing 15 favorable votes in the upcoming polls.

“We have no problem to vote for them if they pave roads in our locality. There are over ten roads in our ward. They told us they would pave at least one main asphalt road in each area. They said they would build roads first in the areas from which they have already received votes for their party,” a local resident from Bo San Tun Ward said.

However, an official with the City Development Committee told Mizzima the roads are to be built by the municipal committee in the name of the USDP.

According to City Development Committee budget figures received by Mizzima, over 30 billion kyats (1 USD = 1,000 kyats) was appropriated for the building and repairing of roads for this year, over 10 billion kyats more than was allocated last year. The municipal committee built and repaired over 200 roads during 2009.

Meanwhile, in some villages local authorities and USDP organizers are forcibly recruiting new party members door-to-door, insisting people sign the membership application and taking their photographs, a local resident from Kyauktwinkone Ward in Pegu said.

“They threaten people by saying there will be no more coups if the USDP wins. Otherwise, there will be more coups in future,” recounted one individual of their personal experience.

USDP party organizers are also said to have taken advantage of the recent outbreak of dengue fever in some localities, using the party’s involvement in fever control and prevention work as a further recruitment ploy.

The USDA, Union Solidarity and Development Association, was the progenitor of the USDP. It was dissolved on the 6th of this month, paving the way for the USDP to assume a more politically active profile.