Rally held in Mandalay to support President Thein Sein

The rally, led by members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), took place with official permission from the authority concerned.

The demonstrators rallied, holding vinyl posters that read: “President Thein Sein is the one who: (1) reduced the poverty rate; (2) kept commodity prices down; (3) fought against corruption; (4) marched towards a democratic country peacefully; (5) got international recognition; (6) granted amnesty to political prisoners; (7) tackled farmers’ land grabbing problems; (8) dealt with labour rights; (9) steered the judicial pillar; (10) thought about the daily existence of people; (11) strove to end communal violence;(12) thought about the lives of all people, and (13) is backed by the people to continue governing the country.”

“Today’s rally is aimed at supporting his next presidential term. We do not represent any parties or organisations. Some are demonstrating against the president. Likewise, we have the right to stage a rally in support of him, as well,” said Sein Min, a leader of the event. 

 

Pre-arranged event

“Everybody has the right to stage a rally. But the problem is how to prove whether these points are right or wrong,” said Saw Hla Aung from the Movement for Democracy Current Force, who recently protested against the president. 

“I would like to claim that this rally is just a pre-arranged event as these points are not backed by the situation on the ground.”

Some demonstrators did not even know the name of the person they were supporting.

“I heard a voice ask the name in the crowd when taking photos. Another one said to the first one to see the name on the vinyl poster,” said Tayza Hlaing, a photo reporter from Irrawaddy journal. 

“I didn’t know where this rally was going to take place. I participated as I was asked to come. People in the ward were transported by six or seven light trucks to the event,” said a 50-year-old woman, who resides in Pyigyidagon township.

“This demonstration aims to enable people to know about the president’s achievements. Any kind of reform needs a certain length of time. The president’s next term will be decided by people’s votes only. We will continue supporting the president,” said Aung Ko Win, who led the rally.

Aung Ko Win has close ties with Kantharyar ward administrator Sein Min. 

People from Kantharyar ward said the demonstrators were workers from the Thinpangone ward of Pyigyitagon township, Myayaynandar, Aungthayar and Kantharyar wards. 

They were paid on a daily basis for the rally.

On September 12, members from the MDCF and Facilitators Network with ILO held a rally against the president to protest his statement made during his tour of Europe that he would run again for the presidency.