You might have thought Myanmar’s politicians might at least wait until the official start of campaign season (tomorrow) to start buying votes.
But already there have been allegations that candidates have bribed the public with large donations to schools and infrastructure as well as, er, umbrellas. (Who wouldn’t swap electoral freedom for a sturdy rain-shield?)
U Than Zin Tun, a candidates for the main opposition, the National League for Democracy, filed a police report against one of his competitors in the race for Nay Pyi Taw’s Dekkhinathiri Township seat in parliament on September 5.
According to the Myanmar Times, he accused his rival from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, U Myint Hlaing, of conspiring with a former Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation colleague to bribe the public.
His former co-worker, U Kyaw Win, who is standing as an independent candidate in Mandalay, allegedly handed out umbrellas with a slogan supporting his old boss.
The police declined to investigate, saying it was not within their jurisdiction.
Other allegations were made against U Myint Hlaing about his donations of food and equipment to local schools.
He denied the gifts were related to the election campaign.
Former Minister of Industry U Soe Thein, who is running as an independent in Kayah State, has also been accused of vote-buying after he spent more than K300 million ($235,000) on building schools and infrastructure in the area.
The secretary of the Kayah United Democracy Party has reportedly petitioned the Union Election Commission.
Officially, politicians are only allowed to campaign for 60 days starting September 8 and a maximum of K10 million can be spent.
Photo: A woman casts her ballot in the 2012 by-elections in Myanmar. Image via Wikicommons/Htoo Tay Zar
