Ayeyawady throws huge support behind NLD

Joining the rally were more than 3,000 motorbikes, about 1,000 cars and more than 400 trishaws. Onlookers gave eggs, cakes, drinks and betel to marchers. Shopkeepers closed up to join the two-and-a-half-hour rally where many wore NLD shirts and carried flags. Social organisations clearing the streets after the march said the number of participants was the highest in the township’s history. 

Bo Bo Tun who led the rally said: “Many supporters joined us. We paid nothing to take part.” 

Another supporter Bo Bo Khaing said: “We could not buy NLD’s flags and shirts as there weren’t enough shirts for all. I want Mother Suu’s [Aung San Suu Kyi] party to win the election. All the staff from my rice mill were given the day off to join the rally.” 

Myaungmya Township has more than 204,000 voters and i the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) reportedly distributed fried vermicelli during its recent campaign in the area. 

According to the most recent national census, Ayeyawady is Myanmar’s second most-populated region with 6.18 million people after Yangon, which has a population of 7.36 million. 

The ruling USDP has been attacking the NLD quite heavily recently. On Tuesday, Htay Oo, the ruling party’s joint chairman, mocked Suu Kyi in a speech delivered to voters in Hinthada Township, Ayeyawady Region.

In Nay Pyi Taw’s Dekkhinathiri Township, Zaw Waik, joint secretary of the ruling party, was also reportedly distributing leaflets containing inciting information against NLD and its leader. The leaflets were handed to monks and the general public on September 10, said Than Than Soe, an election officer. 

The leaflets said: “The party which does not stand for the nationality and religion neglects the importance of national affairs. It focuses less on other issues like corruption among Cabinet members, poverty and national election law in the election campaign. The party also uses the pictures of General Aung San in its campaign, to deceive peace-loving people. It assumed that the general public don’t care about national affairs, the Bengali-Rohingya issue, and the extinction of the nationality and country. If the public neglect such important issues and vote for her just because she is the daughter of General Aung San, this might be dangerous for the religion and the country.” 

Thant Zin Tun, an NLD officer in the township, said that his party had warned Zaw Waik that the message violated electoral laws. 

Representing the ruling party in the township is Union Minister Myint Hlaing.

In his speech on September 23, the minister said: “It’s important that the public choose the right person. If a woman says she loves the country and the public, but is married to a man believing in a different religion, can we believe her? That’s a lie … I don’t want to insult anybody but I have to say this. You must know that I say this because I’m worried about the country.”

Myanmar recently enforced the interfaith marriage law, which bars the marriage of Buddhist women with men of other religions.