Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Twenty-nine cases involving alleged electoral fraud committed by the Union Solidarity and Development Party are being held up in trial courts, the chairman of a pro-junta party said yesterday.
Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics (UMFNP) party chairman Aye Lwin leads the pro-junta political party also run by the 88 Generation Students (Union of Myanmar). The group is supported by State Peace and Development Council (SPDC, the junta’s name for itself) Industry Minister No. 1 Aung Thaung, but it has denied seeking financial help from the junta.“Police have investigated these cases. They told us all case files had been forwarded [to trial courts] last week. But they haven’t received any replies yet,” Aye Lwin told Mizzima yesterday.
The cases concerned comprise 12 cases filed in Pyi district, west Pegu Division, two cases in Sagaing Division, one case in Magway Division and 14 cases in Rangoon Division.
Police investigated USDP members, ward-level authorities and poll-station chiefs last month over the cases, scrutiny that have been completed for a reported two weeks.
Aye Lwin said the alleged fraud entailed irregularities in compilation of electoral rolls, vote counting and the compiling of absentee votes.
Though the cases are registered at police stations, complaints will also be lodged with the junta’s electoral watchdog, the Union Election Commission (UEC), Aye Lwin said.
A complaint against a winning candidate can be lodged with the UEC up to 60 days from the polling date, which would be January 6. Each complaint submitted to the UEC must be accompanied with a non-refundable one-million-kyat deposit (US$1,111).
If the accused is found guilty, a one-year prison term, 100,000 kyat fine or both is meted out as punishment. However, if the complaint is determined to be frivolous, the complainant is sentenced to a three-year prison term, 300,000 kyat fine or both, as per electoral laws.
According to a city official in July, Rangoon City Development Committee banned collection of donations to all individuals and organisations after the 88 Generation Students and Youths (Union of Myanmar) and Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics (UMFNP) parties canvassed market-goers for funds at Yadana Theingi market North Okkalapa Township.
