Myanmar workers return home to cast votes in by-elections

CHIANG RAI, March 31 (TNA) - The general atmosphere of by-elections in Myanmar which will be held Sunday is becoming lively as Myanmar workers in Thailand have gradually returned to their country to exercise their voting rights. Myanmar workers who have hometowns in by-election constituencies have crossed Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai border district to cast votes on Sunday. They have shown signs of enthusiasm in exercising election rights after the army-backed government changed outright military rule in 2011 and prepared to open the country wider to the outside world. The change in opening the country will definitely boost border trade between Thailand and Myanmar as well as persuading more foreign businessmen to invest in that Southeast Asian country, considered by the United Nations as one of the poorest countries in the world presently. Myanmar’s Union Election Commission officials have already distributed election equipment to election booths while desks have been set up for observers from political parties to watch while votes are being counted. It is expected that officials would seal election boxes at 6.00 a.m. Sunday in front of witnesses. Candidates contesting in the by-elections are fiercely canvassing for votes from the eligible voters on Saturday. Although the opposition National League for Democracy of party leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to win the by-elections, its candidates are still campaigning very hard. Results of the by-elections are expected to be released within a week after Sunday. According to the Union Election Commission, a total of 157 candidates from 17 political parties are contesting in the by-elections. Of the 157 candidates, 129 will contest for 37 seats of the House of Representatives while 22 candidates for six seats of the House of Nationalities and six candidates for two seats of the Region or State Parliament. (TNA)