Myanmar opposition candidate hurt in sword attack on rally

AFP, YANGON: A candidate for Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition was wounded by a sword-wielding attacker while canvassing in Yangon, his party said Friday, as tensions rise just over a week before Myanmar holds key elections.
Naing Ngan Linn, a sitting MP for the National League for Democracy, suffered injuries to his head and arms when he was set upon late Thursday as his campaign group toured a township in his constituency.
“(The man) started punching an NLD member. Then people tried to make him go home because he was drunk. But he came back with a large knife,” said Thet Htar Nwe Win, another NLD candidate, who witnessed the incident.
“Naing Ngan Linn tried to stop him... that’s why he sustained many injuries,” he told AFP, adding several other men had attacked the group but were unarmed.
It was not clear what motivated the assault, which left three other NLD members with minor wounds.
Thet Htar New Win said at least two people had been arrested.
Political tensions are high in former junta-run Myanmar, where Suu Kyi’s opposition is contesting nationwide elections for the first time in a quarter of a century.
The party is likely to make major gains in the vote, potentially tipping the balance of power away from the military and its ruling party allies for the first time in generations.
Myanmar’s elections are set to crown more than four years of reforms that have seen the nation open its doors to the world under a quasi-civilian regime that replaced junta rule in 2011.
Campaigning has largely been calm, although the NLD has complained that its rivals have used religion as a political tool.
Those concerns carry weight in a nation that has seen waves of anti-Muslim violence in recent years.
NLD spokesman Nyan Win told AFP that the attack on Naing Ngan Linn was “the worst case during our campaign so far” and called for immediate action from police.
His wife Khin Sandar Win said he suffered wounds on his forehead, hands and wrists and had undergone an operation late Thursday. His condition was not life threatening.
“It happened in front of my eyes. The man who attacked was shouting abusive words against NLD when our vehicle arrived,” she told AFP.
The attack comes just days before Suu Kyi is due to speak at a major rally in Yangon at the culmination of weeks of energetic campaigning around the country by the veteran activist.
A spokesman for the party who was overseeing preparations at the rally site Friday said there would be “normal” security for Sunday’s event.
Another news adds: A Myanmar student leader who has been on the run since March protests calling for education reform has been arrested, police said Friday, the latest detention over rallies that saw dozens arrested and sparked international alarm.
The arrest of Kyaw Ko Ko, president of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, comes as the former junta-run state prepares for landmark general elections on November 8.
While the polls are being heralded as the fairest in decades, rights groups have expressed fears over the government’s increasing crackdown on free speech.
Kyaw Ko Ko was arrested over a protest in Yangon seven months ago supporting student activists in the central town of Letpadan, whose
rallies were brought to an end in a violent crackdown by authorities.
“Student leader Kyaw Ko Ko was arrested yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. He’s now under interrogation,” said a police officer in Yangon, who did not want to be named, without providing further details including where he was arrested or being held.
Around 54 students are currently detained and awaiting trial near Letpadan as rights groups accuse Myanmar of returning to tactics of suppression used under military rule.
Earlier this month two Myanmar activists were arrested over Facebook posts about the military in a country where the army retains massive sway despite outright military rule being replaced with a quasi-civilian government in 2011.
President Thein Sein’s government was widely praised for its raft of political and economic reforms, leading to the removal of most
Western sanctions, but is increasingly coming under fire for backsliding on human rights issues.

 

Myanmar opposition candidate hurt in sword attack on rally

AFP, YANGON: A candidate for Aung San Suu Kyis opposition was wounded by a sword-wielding attacker while canvassing in Yangon, his party said Friday, as tensions rise just over a week before Myanmar holds key elections. Naing Ngan Linn, a sitting MP for the National League for Democracy, suffered injuries to his head and arms when he was set upon late Thursday as his campaign group toured a township in his constituency. (The man) started punching an NLD member. Then people tried to make him go home because he was drunk. But he came back with a large knife, said Thet Htar Nwe Win, another NLD candidate, who witnessed the incident. Naing Ngan Linn tried to stop him... thats why he sustained many injuries, he told AFP, adding several other men had attacked the group but were unarmed. It was not clear what motivated the assault, which left three other NLD members with minor wounds. Thet Htar New Win said at least two people had been arrested. Political tensions are high in former junta-run Myanmar, where Suu Kyis opposition is contesting nationwide elections for the first time in a quarter of a century. The party is likely to make major gains in the vote, potentially tipping the balance of power away from the military and its ruling party allies for the first time in generations. Myanmars elections are set to crown more than four years of reforms that have seen the nation open its doors to the world under a quasi-civilian regime that replaced junta rule in 2011. Campaigning has largely been calm, although the NLD has complained that its rivals have used religion as a political tool. Those concerns carry weight in a nation that has seen waves of anti-Muslim violence in recent years. NLD spokesman Nyan Win told AFP that the attack on Naing Ngan Linn was the worst case during our campaign so far and called for immediate action from police. His wife Khin Sandar Win said he suffered wounds on his forehead, hands and wrists and had undergone an operation late Thursday. His condition was not life threatening. It happened in front of my eyes. The man who attacked was shouting abusive words against NLD when our vehicle arrived, she told AFP. The attack comes just days before Suu Kyi is due to speak at a major rally in Yangon at the culmination of weeks of energetic campaigning around the country by the veteran activist. A spokesman for the party who was overseeing preparations at the rally site Friday said there would be normal security for Sundays event. Another news adds: A Myanmar student leader who has been on the run since March protests calling for education reform has been arrested, police said Friday, the latest detention over rallies that saw dozens arrested and sparked international alarm. The arrest of Kyaw Ko Ko, president of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, comes as the former junta-run state prepares for landmark general elections on November 8. While the polls are being heralded as the fairest in decades, rights groups have expressed fears over the governments increasing crackdown on free speech. Kyaw Ko Ko was arrested over a protest in Yangon seven months ago supporting student activists in the central town of Letpadan, whose rallies were brought to an end in a violent crackdown by authorities. Student leader Kyaw Ko Ko was arrested yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. Hes now under interrogation, said a police officer in Yangon, who did not want to be named, without providing further details including where he was arrested or being held. Around 54 students are currently detained and awaiting trial near Letpadan as rights groups accuse Myanmar of returning to tactics of suppression used under military rule. Earlier this month two Myanmar activists were arrested over Facebook posts about the military in a country where the army retains massive sway despite outright military rule being replaced with a quasi-civilian government in 2011. President Thein Seins government was widely praised for its raft of political and economic reforms, leading to the removal of most Western sanctions, but is increasingly coming under fire for backsliding on human rights issues.