Committee representing members of the
People's Parliament elected in the 1990 multi-party general elections
(Committee representing the People's
Parliament)
Notification 39 (7/99) (translation)
1. We have been informed about the illegal and deceitful strategies being applied by a group of USDA members to orchestrate shouting demonstrations and discredit the duly elected Hluttaw NLD representatives U Kyi Soe and U Saw Aung of constituencies 1 and 2 in Monywa township, Sagaing Division. Signatures are obtained by force and on false representations.
2. With census forms from the Monywa Immigration office the said USDA members went to villages and boldly threatened and demanded signatures of every person over the age of 18 from every household on the said forms. They also assigned the task of getting signatures to the village Peace and Development Council (PDC) members.
3. The said USDA members falsely represented to the village PDC that the purpose of obtaining these signatures was to signify approval of the present governments efforts in their undertakings for the welfare of the country.
4.When it became known to them that the exercise was not initiated by the township PDC authorities, they refused to comply and returned the blank forms. In other villages, the PDC complied half-heartedly.
5. When the said USDA members went around getting signatures they made such utterances as " Just put your signatures to avoid trouble. If you don't want to sign you can blame yourselves for the consequences. Don't ask us why, ask the Township PDC. If you sign, you will not be required to give forced labour and you will not have to pay any money." In some instances, the USDA members forged signatures of villagers who objected.
6. At Yinpan village (Constituency 1), each household had to also pay Kyats 20/- to cover travel costs of the USDA members.
7. We strongly urge the relevant authorities to halt the interference by the USDA in political matters that do not concern them and to cease from bullying and terrorizing the masses in the overbearing manner as above.
Committee representing the People's Parliament
(Responsibility for distribution and publication is taken by the NLD).