Yangon Weather Forecast, Burma

NDF urges citizens to vote

NATIONAL Democratic Force (NDF) opened its first branch office in Yangon at a ceremony on August 22 in North Okkalapa township.

Speaking through the flash of journalists’ cameras, the party’s vice chairman and North Okkalapa resident Dr Than Win urged people to cast their votes boldly and instigate change.

“You shouldn’t be discouraged by outside forces,” he told the audience. “Some people believed our party, which separated from the former opposition party the NLD, would not last long. You will all soon see that such thoughts are absolutely wrong.”

He said the international community was also gradually recognising the important role the NDF was playing but admitted the party faced an uphill battle to be successful.

“Yes, we are facing large obstacles, particularly a shortage of time to choose candidates who will represent the party in the election,” he said, adding that it just meant the party had to work harder. “We can’t close our headquarters, even on Sundays.”

Earlier, a song about Bogyoke Aung San played through a loudspeaker had drawn a crowd of people to Kyauk Yay Dwin Street to watch the ceremony. After the ribbon was cut, about 50 people crammed into the small warehouse-style office, which had been decked out with dozens of gold-painted khamauk, the traditional farmer’s hat, to hear the speeches, while many more waited out on the street.

The opening followed similar ceremonies in Mandalay, Magway, Gangaw in Magway Region and Paletwa in Chin State earlier this month.

Party founder U Khin Maung Swe said at the ceremony that opening branch offices had taken a back seat to other activities in recent weeks, such as registering candidates before the August 30 deadline.

However, he said the party would soon open an office in Labutta township, Ayeyarwady Division.

“Because the National Democratic Force has only been running for a short period of time, we have other things to do and can’t afford to open many offices. So there have been some delays,” he told The Myanmar Times at the ceremony.

The NDF will contest about 100 constituencies across the country, including 20 in Yangon Region, he said.

After registering candidates the group would focus on regular campaign activities, U Khin Maung Swe said.

“At the moment, people are afraid and we need them to see us and speak with us to overcome their fear. After submitting the candidate list [to the Union Election Commission], we will go around the states and regions,” he said.

Party chairman Dr Than Nyein and other senior members were presently on a tour of central Myanmar and were both opening branch offices and finding candidates ahead of the deadline.

He estimated the party had already attracted about 10,000 members.

“Finding people willing to become members is not difficult but we have problems with the time, the finances and the paperwork,” U Khin Maung Shwe said.

 

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