YCDC bans campaigning in public parks

The council recently denied the entry to Maha Bandoola Park, one of the most famous parks in Yangon which is located in Kyauktada Township. Earlier, the election commission granted permission to eight parties including the National League for Democracy. According to Wai Lin, Kyauktada Township election commission officer, the council said the public park must be kept in good condition for younger generations. 

"The park normally sees daily traffic of about 5,000 people and the grass was imported from Japan," said Ko Ko Lin, the head of YCDC’s Parks and Playgrounds Department. "If thousands of people come to rallies, there will be serious damage to the greenery. There are 63 parks under our care and not one of them will be used for party campaigns. There are 111 football fields which can be used for campaigning.”

The decision has agitated political parties.

Kyi Pyar, an NLD MP for Kyauktada Township, said that there has been no rule that parks are off-limits. 

"We will negotiate with the departments involved. There are nine parties competing in Kyauktada and three of our choices have been denied by the YCDC. We have yet to start campaigning because of that and especially since Maha Bandoola Park was rejected by the YCDC.”