Suu Kyi warns of poll-day riots, amid obstacles in Yangon

“People need to be alert on election day. There may be those who will intentionally orchestrate riots. To hold the election peacefully is of great importance for all of us,” Suu Kyi told a campaign rally in Hmawbi, Yangon Region, during the weekend.

Her party is fighting hard despite new challenges.

In Yangon Region, the party’s popularity is strong, particularly among taxi and trishaw drivers. More of them have put NLD flags on their vehicles.

Aung Kyaw Nyein, a taxi driver, said: “I used the NLD flag of my own will. I will vote for this party as I have done in the past. I used a flag during previous elections. I see it more often this time.”

Myo Zaw Oo, a trishaw driver, in Tamwe Township said: “We asked for this flag. I display it with pride. I do it of my own will. They did not persuade us to do it. I did this because our party leader [Aung San Suu Kyi] has sacrificed her life, family and everything. As she is the one who we all trust. I respect her personally rather than her party, so I display her party’s flag.”

Aung Aung, another Tamwe trishaw driver, said: “I believe that our lives would be changed if we voted for this party. I am 35. I’ve seen no changes during my life. I want to see a decrease in goods prices, not car prices, as poor people will never be able to afford a car. I will vote for the NLD because I think it will bring changes.”

Yangon taxi driver Htay Aung said: “I am a retired sergeant from the military. I resigned a long time ago because I like the NLD.”

According to Myint Myat Thu Printing, a key printing house, many political parties have ordered printing of their flags, but the largest volume came from the NLD. 

Campaign obstacles in the region continue. The most recent involved the party’s attempt to campaign on the Coco Islands. While the candidates of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) running for the constituency reached the island with military-owned helicopters, the NLD said the Yangon Region government gave it a number of reasons not to go there and said that if party officials wanted to go, the party must arrange boats to the islands.

“It is only about 30 days before the election date, but we still cannot go there,” said NLD candidate Win Min. “The [regional] government gives us excuses like bad weather but everyone knows that the ruling party’s candidates went there with military arrangements. I doubt the fairness of this election.”

While campaigning in Phaunggyi, Hlegu Township, Yangon Region on Sunday, Suu Kyi stressed the need for military staff to serve the needs of the people.

“Phaunggyi is the site of a military training facility. It is required that service personnel must work to improve the lives of the people. They must not oppress the people,” Suu Kyi said, adding that the dictatorship |system has spoiled the morale of service personnel who now |serve people only in return for money.

She promised that if the NLD is to form the government, the rights of the personnel would be respected and their capacity would be enhanced. Yet, like other public servants whose salaries come from the people, the service personnel should see to the public’s needs.

“We won’t look back on the past with a sense of revenge,” Suu Kyi said.

As Suu Kyi campaigned in several townships in Yangon, Vice Upper House Speaker Mya Nyien – a member of the USDP – said the NLD would not win in the region because of the colour of the party’s flag.

“Green [USDP’s colour] symbolises the development of the country and it means being pleasant,” Mya Nyein told a crowd at Thuwunna Stadium that included Yangon Region Chief Minister Myint Swe. “If one wants to know what red means, go to Martyrs’ Mausoleum, which was blown up by explosives. The bomb blast ripped through it on October 9, 1983. Zin Bo and two others attacked the mausoleum with explosives. What happened to the Martyrs’ Mausoleum? What colour appeared?” The crowd replied “red”.

He added that while the opposition claims it is time for change, the USDP has introduced changes. These include the Ks30-million (Bt810,000) budget allocation to every village, as well as efforts to improve the health and education sectors and the liberalisation of the telecommunication sector.