USDA Rumored To Be Using Bribery For Enrollment

by Myo Gyi

Tuesday, 26 February 2008 00:00

The Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), on February 23rd in the capital of Kachin State, commenced organizational work ahead of May's constitutional referendum. Kachin State USDA Chief and Minister of Post and Telegraph, Major General Thein Zaw, came to Myitkyina and met with Christian clergymen and priests from Dukataung Ward three days ago and said that they would be given phone lines and business permits. A related rumor circulating around Myitkyina is that the USDA is awarding business permits for construction, furniture stores and cottage industries in return for joining their organization. "The use of incentives by the USDA in their organization for the upcoming referendum is a hot topic among people in Myitkyina. They offer such lucrative business incentives, such as landline phones and business permits, even to widows and poor people," a resident of Myitkyina told Mizzima. A student from Dukataung Ward said that he was approached by the USDA through the promise of passing his examination. A local resident from Shansutaung Ward said that incentives offered by USDA officials vary from one ward to another, though there is little leeway in the registration forms distributed to households. "USDA officials gave registration forms to every household in No. 3 Ward on the 23rd of this month. But at the top of these forms it is printed 'List of people supporting the constitution.' On each page there is space for 13 names and it must be signed after being filled up," he said. However reports of business permits being used as incentives have yet to be verified. Local USDA officials have not been available for confirmation and no person with such a permit has been identified. Thein Zaw, along with the Commander of Northern Command, yesterday paid a visit to another Kachin city, Bamoh. "They forced all government staff to join USDA last week, irregardless of their having already joined or not. But they have yet to make such a move in the Wards and villages. They might force the common people to join the USDA after the Minister has left our city," postulated a resident of Bamoh. The SPDC issued Announcements 1/2008 and 2/2008 on the 9th of this month, detailing plans for holding a referendum in May of this year and new elections in 2010. However detailed plans for holding these polls have not been made public. Senior General Than Shwe, the patron of the USDA, said there are 24 million USDA members in Burma, out of a population of 55 million. < Prev   Next >