A National League for Democracy candidate stabbed with a machete at a campaign event in Yangon last night is facing a four-month recovery period during which he will be unable to move his hands, his wife has told The Myanmar Times.
Three men have been arrested over the attack on U Naingan Linn, during which he suffered severe head and hand injuries. The party has called for a “prompt investigation” into the incident in Thaketa township but vowed to continue its campaign activities in the area.
Doctors who treated the MP today told his wife, Daw Khin Sandar Win, who was present when the attack happened, that it will be months before he can use his hands again due to the severity of the injuries.
He has regained consciousness and remains in a critical but stable condition, she said earlier today.
“His fingers and nerves were badly injured,” she said. “The doctors told me that he will have to rest for four months without moving his hands.”
She added that he did not plan to pull out of the election race.
The attack came just one day after NLD representatives met with the Union Election Commission in order to express fears of campaign-related violence ahead of November 8's election. Senior NLD official U Win Htein told the UEC that NLD members have been attacked by a rival political group in Kachin State, and the assaults have taken a toll on the party's campaign efforts there.
The attacks in Kachin are believed to have been prompted by supporters of warlord-turned-lawmaker U Zakhung Ting Ying, head of the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), a border guard force under the Tatmadaw.
Police are also currently investigating allegations that the son and daughter of a ruling-party politician attacked an opposition rally on October 18, in Nay Pyi Taw's Dekkhinathiri township. An NLD vehicle was struck by three missiles fired from a catapult and rammed by a motorcycle driven by Mg Soe Min Aung and Ma Myint Mtint Soe, children of local USDP membre U Nyint Tin.
A Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Dekkhinathiri, U Naingan Linn is running for a region hluttaw seat in Thaketa. He was attacked after a man ordered party members to stop driving their decorated party float on No 8 Road in Mann Pyay quarter.
After they ignored him, the man then allegedly returned with a dar, or machete, and joined by two men with wooden sticks, according to U Wai Phyo Aung, another NLD candidate for Thaketa who was present.
“He first pulled out his knife and struck the campaign manager, who fortunately avoided his attack. Then Ko Naingan Linn stepped forward and told the man to stop,” U Wai Phyo Aung said. “After that the man and the two other people started beating him.”
After the attack, U Naingan Lin and two other party members who also suffered injuries were sent to Yangon General Hospital.
They were released after being treated for minor wound but the MP underwent surgery.
An NLD official from Thaketa township has filed a case with local police last night, said party spokesperson U Nyan Win.
He told The Myanmar Times today that the NLD wants to see a quick resolution to the case.
“We want a prompt investigation and for the necessary action to be taken,” he said.
The party will continue its campaign activities in Thaketa. While no rallies are planned today, U Wai Phyo Aung said door-to-door campaigning will resume tomorrow.
“We will continue our campaigning events but we are concerned for our party members and candidates,” U Wai Phyo Aung said.
He added that three attackers are in custody and Thaketa police are handling the case.
This afternoon Thaketa township police confirmed U Wai Phyo Aung’s account, saying that the alleged principal attacker, U Zaw Latt, had been drinking in a local alcohol shop at the top of No 8 Road in Mann Pyay quarter when the original altercation occurred. Police said that U Zaw Latt, who is also known as U Aung Zaw Latt, tried to punch people who were following the NLD procession, but was stopped by some members.
They said he then returned shortly afterward, at about 9:30pm, with two accomplices, U Tin Aung Khaing Oo and U Myo Min Khaing, and the stabbing occurred.
Initial inquirfies suggest that the attack was not targeted at any individual in the NLD entourage, police said.
The three men are facing charges of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means – which carries a potential 10-year prison term – as well as uttering obscenities and abetting
Additional reporting by Toe Wai Aung
