Anti-Suu Kyi leaflets in Kawhmu focus on her support of sanctions

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) The National League for Democracy (NLD) says anonymous leaflets in Kawhmu are claiming Aung San Suu Kyis support of sanctions against Burma has hurt local development and she will be a puppet of foreign countries, if she wins the election.

Aung San Suu Kyi campaigns in Kawhmu in front of a picture of her father, General Aung San. Photo: Mizzima

Aung San Suu Kyi campaigns in Kawhmu in front of a picture of her father, General Aung San. Photo: Mizzima
The A-4 size leaflets, written with two pseudonyms, Maung Pyauk Kyar (guerrilla) and Kawhmu Maung Loke Thar (worker from Kawhmu), were passed out by unidentified persons on the Dala-Kawhmu highway on Monday evening, local residents said.

NLD Kawhmu Township election campaign manager Myint Thein said the leaflets accused the NLD of forcing local people to wear NLD campaign T-shirts and headbands with the fighting peacock logo during their campaigning.

The leaflets say Daw Suu advocates imposing sanctions against Burma and the sanctions stopped the planned highway between Hnetawsan and Thayettaw, and also factories to be built along the highway, and that has affected development work in Kawhmu and created high unemployment here, he told Mizzima.

The leaflets also say that people from foreign countries will manipulate the country, he said, and Suu Kyi will become a puppet, if she wins in election.

Rangoon Region Election Commission (EU) chairman Ko Ko said that the EU would take action according to the law if someone files a complaint concerning campaign literature.

I heard that some people have filed cases against libelous and personal attacks at local police stations, he said. If they come to us, we will take action on their complaints and will forward them to the Union Election Commission in Naypyitaw after verification. They will take action according to the law, he said.

The NLD said similar campaign literature has bee distributed in Thonegwa and it has lodged a complaint at police stations. The leaflets said Aung San Suu Kyi must admit her mistake in supporting sanctions on Burma.

Similarly, in the Minkin Township constituency (Sagaing Region), USDP party candidate Dr. San Win has maligned and slandered Suu Kyi in his election campaigning, according to NLD officials. The NLD issued a statement on Monday saying such activities could affect the holding of free and fair elections.

NLD officials said USDP Rangoon Region chief Aung Thein Lin is campaigning in person in villages in the Kawhmu constituency, a low-income area on the outskirts of Rangoon with a large population of ethnic Kachin.

On Thursday, Suu Kyi is scheduled to meet local elders at 2 p.m. followed by a campaign rally in front of Kawhmu Weikzar Monastery at 4 p.m.

There are 87,000 eligible voters in the constituency contesting for a Lower House seat including Suu Kyi; Dr. Soe Min of the USDP; and Tin Yi of the Peace and Unity party. Residents can vote in 129 polling stations in the constituency on April 1.