NLD Complains of Voter Verification ‘Obstruction’

In Meeting With Election Body, NLD Complains of Voter Verification ‘Obstruction’
By SAN YAMIN AUNG / THE IRRAWADDY

RANGOON — In a second meeting between the National League for Democracy and the Union Election Commission (UEC) this week, Burma’s main opposition party complained of obstruction from some subcommissions as NLD cadres have sought to ensure an accurate roster of eligible voters ahead of a general election due in some four months’ time.

Representatives from the NLD said UEC officials pledged to address the party’s concerns on Monday at the UEC’s headquarters in Naypyidaw, where the two sides met to discuss an ongoing effort to verify the personal data of more than 30 million eligible voters in Burma.

Tun Tun Hein, who heads up the NLD’s voter list reviewing committee, told UEC officials that the party had encountered resistance to its voter list verification drive in townships from Naypyidaw and Mon State to the capital of Karen State, Hpa-an.

The obstruction included subcommission officials curtailing some voter verification campaigns and prohibiting the party’s efforts to copy voter lists, as well as refusing to accept forms filed by voters to correct their personal data on the rosters.

Last week, two NLD leaders were accused of trespassing during their door-to-door voter education efforts in Naypyidaw.

“We have to communicate with the various commission levels during voter verification. We dealt with some obstruction and unpleasant responses from the subcommissions; we complained about those [incidents to the UEC],” Tun Tun Hein said.

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