Posted by Thawngsian Tung (CNC-Japan)
15 April 2009: Junta officials are actively campaigning for the forthcoming 2010 general elections in Chin state, western Burma. They started campaigning from the last week of March 2009.
The SPDC government has appointed Mr. Phoe Ta, as a campaigner for Matupi Township and Captain Laing Ding for Paletwa, among those who have been sent from Naypidaw, the new capital of Burma. Therefore, they are now campaigning for the elections in some villages, according to local people.
In fact, these people are the candidates for the general elections; therefore they are wooing Chin people for votes and are trying to persuade them to vote for them.
It cannot be estimated how long the election campaign will last, since this is the first time that the candidates are campaigning for themselves. They also did not mention how they would conduct, the second campaign later in the year, locals said.
Regarding the matter, Mr. Paulsitha, General Secretary of Chin National Front, which has been working for the revolution in Burma, said, “The real candidate will be only from the people. It cannot be said that the candidates of the government are the candidates of the people. It is certain that the government, will act just like they did after the election of 1990, as they did not change their policies.”
Similarly, the candidates of ThanTlang Township are Mr. Hrang Hlun (ex-Township Educational Officer), Dr. Hmuh Thang (ex-Director of Health), Mr. Ngun Hrang, Mr. Hmun Kio (ex-chairman of Thantlang Township Burma Socialist Programme Party), and Mr. Nawl Ceu.
The nominees are selected by the social group of Chin elderly persons and they had reported to the Township Peace and Development Council on February 19, 2009. Then the TPDC had submitted the names to Naypidaw on February 20, through the Chairman.
The elderly people’s group was formed under the TPDC, as the negotiator for the problems of army personnel and civilians.
The group does not consult the people regarding selection of nominees for the candidates of 2010 general elections.
“The chairman of TPDC has not taken any opinion from the people; they have just taken them as nominees. Indeed, Naypidaw will accept only the recognition of TPDC’s Chairman,” a local person said. Khonumthung News