MONYWA------The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Transport and Communications Minister Thant Zin Maung, was banned from their canvassing campaign at Gyoekyarkan village, Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, yesterday.
The Gyoekyarkan village, in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus, had fenced and blocked the main entry way with a bamboo fence.
“We asked permission from the village authorities for a canvassing campaign. We are representatives of the polling station. The village authorities told that the campaign group wasn’t allowed into the village in accordance with their rules and regulations. The NLD came to the Gyoekyarkan village for a campaign. But, the village banned it,” said Zaw Myint from Gyoekyarkan village.
“We went to Gyoekyakan village yesterday morning for election campaign. However, the village head put a ban on the canvassing campaign. Daw Ah Mar Kyi was on the phone to the Monywa Township administrator, who also made a quick phone call to the Gyoekyarkan village head. Nevertheless, he didn’t allow us. Likewise, Union Minister Thant Zin Maung spoke about our plan. But it also failed to convince him. Later, we held the canvassing campaign at the village football ground instead,” said NLD’s candidate Thida Win from Monywa district.
“We didn’t order the Gyoekyarkan village for restrictions. However, the village authorities said that they blocked off their village in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. We made a phone call to the village head to unblock it. However, he didn’t obey. That’s why we sent a telegram to take action against him. The village has been blocked with bamboo fences to avoid outside contacts coming in. So, no parties such as the NLD or the Union Solidarity and Development Party allowed holding canvassing campaigns in their village,” said Administrator Khin Maung Soe from Monywa Township.
The Sagaing Regional Government Committee instructed on September 22nd that all wards and villages weren’t allowed making bamboo fences and barriers by their own desires.
Moreover, the instruction reported that all village administrators must carry out prevention measures against the COVID-19 in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Sports and relevant townships’ orders.
