As Myanmar prepares for a general election next week, an opposition politician has found a new way of connecting with voters facing novel coronavirus restrictions and getting her message out.

Han Oo Khin, a candidate for the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP), has been criss-crossing her constituency in the commercial capital of Yangon for more than a month with a truck selling affordable groceries ranging from eggs to onions and noodles.

The Thingangyun township is one of the areas worst affected by the coronavirus so 34-year-old Han Oo Khin, who is an advertising entrepreneur, believes her mobile market stall will help people get their shopping and help her win some votes.

“It’s like killing two birds with one stone,” said Han, speaking beside the truck, which carries a big poster of her on the back, as her supporters handed out leaflets along with groceries to a cluster of shoppers.

“It assists the grassroots people in my township and on the other hand, it introduces my party and me to the public.”

Han reckons the truck has helped her make contact with thousands of people in her constituency, where there are 180,000 voters due to cast ballots on Sunday, when Myanmar holds its second general election since the end of strict military rule.

With more than 50,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,200 deaths, Myanmar is facing one of Southeast Asia’s worst outbreaks of the virus and election campaigning across the country has been hit by curbs on movements and gatherings.

The PPP is one of several new political parties emerging to challenge the popularity of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi’s party is widely expected to win but smaller parties say they see opportunities with her support chipped away by growing ethnic conflict in some areas and a sluggish economy.

The PPP is headed by a former member of parliament from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy who was expelled from the party for criticising it over various issues.

Han has no illusions the PPP can defeat the ruling party but she’s looking long term and plans to keep operating the grocery truck to help build her party’s image and her profile.

“We’ll keep serving the people to prepare for the 2025 election,” she said.

As Myanmar prepares for a general election next week, an opposition politician has found a new way of connecting with voters facing novel coronavirus restrictions and getting her message out.

As Myanmar prepares for a general election next week, an opposition politician has found a new way of connecting with voters facing novel coronavirus restrictions and getting her message out. Han Oo Khin, a candidate for the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP), has been criss-crossing her constituency in the commercial capital of Yangon for more than a month with a truck selling affordable groceries ranging from eggs to onions and noodles. The Thingangyun township is one of the areas worst affected by the coronavirus so 34-year-old Han Oo Khin, who is an advertising entrepreneur, believes her mobile market stall will help people get their shopping and help her win some votes. “It’s like killing two birds with one stone,” said Han, speaking beside the truck, which carries a big poster of her on the back, as her supporters handed out leaflets along with groceries to a cluster of shoppers. “It assists the grassroots people in my township and on the other hand, it introduces my party and me to the public.” Han reckons the truck has helped her make contact with thousands of people in her constituency, where there are 180,000 voters due to cast ballots on Sunday, when Myanmar holds its second general election since the end of strict military rule. With more than 50,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,200 deaths, Myanmar is facing one of Southeast Asia’s worst outbreaks of the virus and election campaigning across the country has been hit by curbs on movements and gatherings. The PPP is one of several new political parties emerging to challenge the popularity of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi’s party is widely expected to win but smaller parties say they see opportunities with her support chipped away by growing ethnic conflict in some areas and a sluggish economy. The PPP is headed by a former member of parliament from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy who was expelled from the party for criticising it over various issues. Han has no illusions the PPP can defeat the ruling party but she’s looking long term and plans to keep operating the grocery truck to help build her party’s image and her profile. “We’ll keep serving the people to prepare for the 2025 election,” she said.

New Myanmar political party woos voters with grocery truck

Once celebrated as democracy champions, a tight elite of elderly former political prisoners at the helm of Myanmar's ruling party now stand accused of oppression, discrimination and censorship.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) is widely expected to win next week's election,&nbsp;five years after it swept to power in a landslide victory.

Throngs of young people signed up to the party when the Southeast Asian nation emerged from outright military rule, eager to play their role in cementing democracy.

But critics now say the top echelons of the NLD remain closed to anyone who did not serve time behind bars in the fight against the former junta -- effectively sidelining the youth.

"We thought, proudly, we'd be future political leaders," current NLD MP and former youth leader&nbsp;Aung Hlaing Win, now 37, told AFP.

"But, unfortunately, it went the wrong way."

The average age for the 12 members of the NLD's top decision-making body, including party boss and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is more than 70.

All of them were jailed or placed under house arrest for opposing the military regime.

Younger members of the party were largely reduced to supporting acts for their seniors, required to ask permission to speak to anyone outside the party, and submit speeches for "censorship", said Aung Hlaing Win.

"It turned out to be an oppressive system — no different from the system of military rule," he added.

"Just because they'd been political prisoners didn't mean they knew how to run a country."

The hopes for change were dashed for many young democracy activists, who accuse the NLD of operating no better than other parties.

Political parties still ask new members about the role they played in the 1988 protests, complained 28-year-old activist Thinzar Shunlei Li, even though a majority of people in Myanmar were born in or after the 1980s.

"This is not the right way to judge a person," she said. "Our issues, concerns and struggles are different."

'Older people have thicker skin'

The NLD emerged from Myanmar's 1988 pro-democracy movement as it fought against the junta.

This was when Suu Kyi -- now 75 -- was propelled to fame. She became a national hero, serving 15 years under house arrest, one of around 10,000 people imprisoned by the regime for their political beliefs.

But critics say incarceration has become an unwritten requirement for rising up in her party.

"People who served jail time longer are more important&nbsp;-- that's the philosophy of the NLD," former NLD MP Thet Thet Khine told AFP.

The 53-year-old was kicked out last year for not toeing the NLD line, and now heads a rival party.

More than 120 current NLD ministers or MPs have served time in prison -- from State Counsellor Suu Kyi and the president down.

A similar number of the party's 2020 election candidates have also been jailed at some point.

"Doing time is a badge of honour," explained Yangon-based analyst Richard Horsey, describing it as an "entry ticket to the upper echelons of the NLD".

It is a policy the party makes no attempt to hide.

"When we consider giving responsibilities to someone, we favour our old comrades," NLD spokesman and former '88 Generation activist Myo Nyunt told AFP.

"Older people have thicker skin, while newer members can be susceptible to criticism."

Unquestioning support&nbsp;

Critics have also pointed to the NLD's flipped role -- a party led by victims of political repression that is cracking down on dissenters now that it is in power.

The number of activists incarcerated under Suu Kyi's government has soared.&nbsp;

In recent weeks, 15 protesters have been arrested and two sentenced to six years behind bars for condemning alleged abuses by Myanmar's military in Rakhine state.

Fortify Rights regional director Ismail Wolff described the crackdown on freedom of expression as "extreme and worsening".

There are currently 537 political prisoners either already sentenced or awaiting trial, said Bo Kyi, co-founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

He also served time under the junta, and said he felt marginalised after his release because of the climate of fear.

But he conceded today's young activists fare little better, faced with an unsympathetic public that unquestioningly supports Suu Kyi.

"Most people don't want anyone to do anything against her."

Once celebrated as democracy champions, a tight elite of elderly former political prisoners at the helm of Myanmar's ruling party now stand accused of oppression, discrimination and censorship.

Once celebrated as democracy champions, a tight elite of elderly former political prisoners at the helm of Myanmar's ruling party now stand accused of oppression, discrimination and censorship. The National League for Democracy (NLD) is widely expected to win next week's election, five years after it swept to power in a landslide victory. Throngs of young people signed up to the party when the Southeast Asian nation emerged from outright military rule, eager to play their role in cementing democracy. But critics now say the top echelons of the NLD remain closed to anyone who did not serve time behind bars in the fight against the former junta -- effectively sidelining the youth. "We thought, proudly, we'd be future political leaders," current NLD MP and former youth leader Aung Hlaing Win, now 37, told AFP. "But, unfortunately, it went the wrong way." The average age for the 12 members of the NLD's top decision-making body, including party boss and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is more than 70. All of them were jailed or placed under house arrest for opposing the military regime. Younger members of the party were largely reduced to supporting acts for their seniors, required to ask permission to speak to anyone outside the party, and submit speeches for "censorship", said Aung Hlaing Win. "It turned out to be an oppressive system — no different from the system of military rule," he added. "Just because they'd been political prisoners didn't mean they knew how to run a country." The hopes for change were dashed for many young democracy activists, who accuse the NLD of operating no better than other parties. Political parties still ask new members about the role they played in the 1988 protests, complained 28-year-old activist Thinzar Shunlei Li, even though a majority of people in Myanmar were born in or after the 1980s. "This is not the right way to judge a person," she said. "Our issues, concerns and struggles are different." 'Older people have thicker skin' The NLD emerged from Myanmar's 1988 pro-democracy movement as it fought against the junta. This was when Suu Kyi -- now 75 -- was propelled to fame. She became a national hero, serving 15 years under house arrest, one of around 10,000 people imprisoned by the regime for their political beliefs. But critics say incarceration has become an unwritten requirement for rising up in her party. "People who served jail time longer are more important -- that's the philosophy of the NLD," former NLD MP Thet Thet Khine told AFP. The 53-year-old was kicked out last year for not toeing the NLD line, and now heads a rival party. More than 120 current NLD ministers or MPs have served time in prison -- from State Counsellor Suu Kyi and the president down. A similar number of the party's 2020 election candidates have also been jailed at some point. "Doing time is a badge of honour," explained Yangon-based analyst Richard Horsey, describing it as an "entry ticket to the upper echelons of the NLD". It is a policy the party makes no attempt to hide. "When we consider giving responsibilities to someone, we favour our old comrades," NLD spokesman and former '88 Generation activist Myo Nyunt told AFP. "Older people have thicker skin, while newer members can be susceptible to criticism." Unquestioning support Critics have also pointed to the NLD's flipped role -- a party led by victims of political repression that is cracking down on dissenters now that it is in power. The number of activists incarcerated under Suu Kyi's government has soared. In recent weeks, 15 protesters have been arrested and two sentenced to six years behind bars for condemning alleged abuses by Myanmar's military in Rakhine state. Fortify Rights regional director Ismail Wolff described the crackdown on freedom of expression as "extreme and worsening". There are currently 537 political prisoners either already sentenced or awaiting trial, said Bo Kyi, co-founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. He also served time under the junta, and said he felt marginalised after his release because of the climate of fear. But he conceded today's young activists fare little better, faced with an unsympathetic public that unquestioningly supports Suu Kyi. "Most people don't want anyone to do anything against her."

Suu Kyi and old guard frustrate young Myanmar politicians

myanmar-politicians

Myanmar Politicians, News on Myanmar Politicians, stories on Myanmar Politicians, articles on Myanmar Politicians, Myanmar Politicians stories at Wion, Myanmar Politicians news, Myanmar Politicians latest news

myanmar politicians

New Myanmar political party woos voters with grocery truck

Suu Kyi and old guard frustrate young Myanmar politicians