On Feb. 23, the residents of Aung Chan Tha village were informed by local authorities that anyone who went to the NLD campaign rally would be struck off a list of households awaiting electricity.
The village currently has no power, and a private fund was established locally a few months ago to pursue access to an electrical supply. However, sources say the committee overseeing the distribution of power is loyal to the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and it keeps a list of names of families which will qualify for electricity in the near future. Ahead of Suu Kyi's visit to the capital, committee chiefs threatened the residents that their names would be struck off the list if they attended the rally. Ironically, the village of Aung Chan Tha lies immediately to the side of the brightly illuminated highway that leads into the nation's capital.
An NLD candidate said that several villagers told her that a representative from the electricity distribution committee had summoned them to explain that the electricity project was partly sponsored by the USDP so it would not supply power to anyone who supports the NLD. "That electricity committee member told the villagers: 'You can complain about it to anyone you like. I'm here to inform you that someone from the top told me to tell you this,'” said the candidate.
Min Thu also said that when people from surrounding villages travelled to hear Suu Kyi speak in Naypyidaw, they were diverted. "The villagers were taken to pagodas or to an amusement park some 16 miles from the rally site,” he said.
"It seems that the people who intimidated the villagers don't understand the president's wish for a free and fair election,” she said. “The misuse of power by people on the ground is the greatest obstacle we now face.”