Political parties demand action against religious propaganda
Several political parties and the civil organisations demanded government action against religious and racial propaganda, claiming it could cause instability during the election and distort the country's image.
The National League for Democracy and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi have borne the brunt of campaign attacks by hardline religious-nationalist groups. Activists who have spoken out against the recently enacted racial and religious protection laws have also been attacked on social media.
Members of Ma Ba Tha, a hardline Buddhist nationalist group that is seen by many as anti-Muslim, have spread lies about the NLD, saying the party’s platform favours Muslim people and aims to build more mosques. Anti-NLD leaflets were distributed by religious-nationalist groups after the party denounced the interfaith marriage law, which restricts the rights of Muslim men to marry Buddhist women.
Zin Mar Oo from Myanmar Network Organisation for Free and Fair Elections said: "The constitution bars campaigning by exploiting religious sensitivities. Those who continue to do this are violating the constitution, but no action has been taken against them. In fact, they are intentionally accelerating the propaganda as the election draws near. Everyone can see this propaganda in the newspapers or on social media. They should be warned by the authorities."
May Zabel Phyu from the Kachin Peace Network said religion should not be exploited for political gain, and the authorities should control such unethical conduct.
She continued: "The rules and laws are just on paper. Action has only been taken against a few people. If the opposition party were to commit such unethical conduct, it would be charged."
Salai Issac Khen from the Peace Myanmar Institute said: "People should not totally rely on social media because political mouthpieces abuse it. Conditions are getting complicated as the election approaches. There are people who want to ruin the election. We need to educate the people. Since our education system has been destroyed for decades, people's critical thinking is not good. So they believe rumours."
He also said political parties and their leaders should be more transparent about how they are attacked.
NLD candidate Nay Phone Latt said the Union Election Commission is responsible the abuses of religious propaganda during the election.