I don’t know, why I became a USDA member

Independent Mon News Agency

September 8, 2004

Many people said they did not know why they become as members of Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) while this SPDC hand-picked organization is currently extending its members in Mon State.

“I did not know why myself became a USDA member because of my village headmen filled in the USDA member registration form. When USDA leaders came and asked our Village Peace and Development Council to extend 20 members in this year for the village, my name was put,” said Mr. Nai Myo a villager from Kwan-hlar village Mudon Township.

“There are many people of names were filled in the USDA form by the Village PDC like me while they are on trips,” added Mr. Nai Myo.

“USDA forced us to find 20 people to put them as USDA members. We knew about our villagers, most of them don’t want to be USDA members. That is why we filled the names of people in the USDA forms,” said by a village headman.

Every township in Mon State is extending USDA members under the direction of Mon State USDA Chairperson U Ye Tun and the District USDA chairperson Daw Ai Ai San.

In Mon State, depend on household numbers in the village, USDA authorities are asking the village PDC authorities to find for their new members during this year.

“If a village has middle school, the Village PDC authorities have to find 10 students for the USDA,” Mr. Nai Myat Htwe, a village PDC in Southern Mudon Township told IMNA.

In the city or town, USDA has tried to raise 100 members in a town quarter for this year. According to people close to USDA members, the USDA has currently faced difficulties in raising its member in town and they do not receive the numbers who committed to their activities.

In Mon State, USDA is extending its member by forcing some villagers or giving economic opportunity to other people.

USDA was formed as supporting organization to the SPDC after the 1990 General Elections. The regime has currently planned to create it as future political body after the National Convention and writing of the Constitution, according to a source close to Mon State USDA.

For further information, please contact to Independent Mon News Agency
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