Thursday, February 9, 2012

Suu Kyi to campaign in Kawmhu

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Thursday, 09 February 2012 12:34 Mizzima News

(Mizzima) – Aung San Suu Kyi says she will campaign for the first time in the Kawmhu constituency on the outskirts of Rangoon on Saturday, before launching campaign trips to all state and regional capitals before the April 1 by-election.

Burma’s opposition leader told reporters last week that she chose Kwamhu because of its large Kayin population.

 “I might visit [Kawmhu] more than three times if I don’t have to go elsewhere to campaign,” she said, speaking to the press at her home after meeting U.N. human rights envoy Tomas Quintana last week.

“I can’t go and campaign in every constituency that the NLD will contest in the by-election, but I plan to visit the capital of each region and state … including Kachin State,” she said.

The National League for Democracy party will try to win “100 percent of seats in this by election,” she said.

Meanwhile, party spokesperson U Nyan Win said a planned trip to Mandalay on February 4-5, which was cancelled, would be rescheduled when a large enough venue is available.

Agence France Presse news agency, quoting another NLD official, said Suu Kyi was concerned everyone couldn’t be admitted to her rally in Mandalay.

“She worries people might be injured because of the size of the crowd. That’s why she postponed the trip. She will go there later for sure,” the spokesperson said.

In recent weeks, Suu Kyi has campaigned in the area of the Dawei industrial zone and the rural Tanintharyi Region in southern Burma, and to the Pathein area in Irrawaddy Region.

Nyan Win said the NLD new membership campaign was successful, but was taking time to make sure all applicants were eligible.

“For example, some people quit from other parties to join the NLD. We will check all applications,” he said.

There are 48 vacant seats at three government levels open to contest in the by-elections. Of the 48 seats in constituencies in 10 regions or states, 40 are for the Lower House, six for Upper House and two for region or state parliaments.

The main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, will contest in all 48 vacant constituencies.         

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