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SPDC election training pressures villagers; headmen sign guarantee of pro-regime votes by residents

HURFOM, Nyaung Lay Bin Township, Pague Division: During a patrol of south eastern Nyaung Lay Bin Township, two columns of SDPC soldiers stopped in at least 4 villages, issued travel restriction orders, held a training on the election which emphasized the  USDP as the best pick of parties, and forced village headmen to sign a document confirming that they would make all villagers vote for political parties that would benefit the state. Read more

SPDC battalions demand construction supplies, non-Burmese speaker tortured

HURFOM, Hpapun Township: In recent patrols by SPDC soldiers, residents of Hpapun Township were ordered to collect bamboo and roof thatch supplies. The task is increasingly time consuming as bamboo has become scarce, and cuts time residents use to provide for their livelihood. In an instance of forced portering, a porter was tortured after it was found he could not speak Burmese. Read more

Local education staff are forced to attend USDP polling training

HURFOM: Local teachers from Beelin Township government schools have been ordered to attend polling booth trainings conducted by senior members of the USDP. Teachers have expressed concern and disinterest in the election as a result of the USDP’s key position in conducting election preparations. Read more

Watering the Poison-Tree: The ongoing systemic erosion of democratic process

With two months to go until the November 7th polling date for the 2010 Burmese national election, widespread evidence exists indicating that whatever pretense was made of a democratic process, its actual implementation within the election has fallen incredibly short. State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) forces have remained active in undermining the nascent democratic process with significant multi-faceted attempts to ensure the continuity of the current governments rule post November 7th.

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These efforts have targeted democratic and opposition forces through a variety of approaches designed to effectively overwhelm any opportunity for political engagement before the campaign period even began officially on August 31st. They include re-writing the constitution to bind the junta to the political system; legal entanglement and restriction; censorship; and the formation of government militias and thug groups1; the use of existing government funding, administration, police, military, and civilian action groups to campaign for government parties2; using state money to fund pro-government civilian parties; using coercion through rewards and threats in order to secure votes; While portions of these activities are actually written in to the legal framework for the lection, others violate the election laws written by the current ruling junta, technically requiring that the subsidiary pro-government parties involved be deregistered and disband. Read more

SPDC patrols arbitrarily harass, beat, and arrest villagers in Nyaung Lay Bin Township

HURFOM, Nyaung Lay Bin: A series of security crackdowns in five villages in Pegu Division by SPDC troops have resulted in a wave of arrests and beatings of regional villagers. The area, heavily contested by KNLA forces, has seen a recent increase in reprisal patrols as engagements between KNLA and SPDC forces have increased. Read more

USDP’s manipulations to win in elections

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was formed from a so-called civilian social service organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), and plans to win in the 2010 national election by any means.  The USDP is composed of retired military commanders from the current military regime, who stepped down to take up the guise of civilian leaders, and lower ranking  SPDC members.  Read more

Local SPDC police captain orders forced labor for police station construction in southern Ye Township

HURFOM, Khaw Zar, southern Ye, Mon State:

The police captain in Khaw Zar sub-township has ordered the use of Yin Ye villagers in the construction and possible supply of a police station seated in Yin Ye village. The order requires 1 member of each household to serve each day, but offers no compensation. For villagers, labor lost by working on construction undermines incomes already impacted by years of continued conflict in the region. Read more

The Oppressed Lives

Since 1962 the Burmese military Junta has considered large portions of Southern Burma including Yebyu Towhship, a free-fire zone. Residents suspected of aiding insurgent forces are often presumed guilty by Burmese soldier, and face significant abuse. Residents who can no longer bear the abuses will often flee, seeking shelter along the Thai-Burma border, or as in the following case. resettlement camps administered by the New Mon State Party (NMSP). But as years of abuse have progressed, problems within these camps have also increased.

Sale and use of Ya Ba among teenagers increasing in Kawkariet Township

WCRP, Kawkariet Township, Karen State, Burma: “During this year, the use and sale of Ya Ba [methamphetamine] among the teenage population of Kawkariet Township is increasing”, says a drug user from Kawkariet Township. Read more

NUP campaign promises immunity from regime abuses

HURFOM: While the USDP has thus far dominated most accounts of government support and abuse against civilians prior to the 2010 election, the NUP has also returned to again contest Burma’s national election. The NUP, intending to raise membership and support before going to the polls, has been coercing the support of voters through incentives of protection against current government abuses. This tactic indicates strong ties with government support despite election laws. Read more

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