Around 30 people staged a protest in the office compound of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) against alleged electoral irregularities and violations of law in Zalun Township on November 22. 

 “We are gathered here in opposition to unfair practices and law violations that we experienced in the election. The major problem was with the election commission. Voter lists were inaccurate. Those under voting age cast their ballots. Some votes were cast on behalf of other voters. Some people cast votes on behalf of dead people. Voting identity cards for ethnic nationals were issued in the places where no ethic people live. Ballot papers were issued more than the limited amount. Parties were not allowed to take photos when Form (16) applications were filled in. They were all errors. In a case for example, 201 advance votes were cast. There were over 400 votes on the list. Filling in Form (19) applications was also found to have errors. So we had less credibility in the voting process. What they had done for parties is not enough,” said Zalun Township USDP chairman Cho Myint Khaing.

He said his party had filed four complaints at the police station and seven complaints at the election commission, adding that more will be coming. 

Soe Myint Thein, chairman of Zalun Township Election Sub-commission, said: “We have no bias towards anyone. We have appointed our members free of partiality and political affairs. We are not influenced by any party. Every party had their representatives at the polling stations. Their representatives from lower and upper houses and regional parliaments were also visiting the polling stations when voting took place. They should have said so at that time. They could have opposed what they disliked.” 

The protestors chanted their demands such as objection to the issuance of extra ballot identity cards for ethnic people, investigation into the votes cast those under voting age, objection to Covid cash aid for votes, calls for the election sub-commission members to resign, scrutiny of the voter lists and calls for a free and fair election.