Distributors of election pamphlets that stressed safeguarding race and religion before Myanmar’s November 8 election in Mandalay have had cases filed against them under Section 58(c) of the Election Law which concerns racial bias.

Township election commission registered case against advocates Zaw Weik and U Naing aka Naing Win Tun who are leaders in this movement at Aungmyaythazan Township No. 2 police station on November 11 and another 21 people including Ko Ko Hla and Zin Mar Nyo who took part in this movement of distributing pamphlets and had cases registered against them at Chanayethazan Township No. 8 police station.

The remaining five people reportedly had registered cases against them at Amarapura Township Myoma police station and Patheingyi Myoma police station. The township election commission branches concerned registered cases against these people at their respective police stations as prosecutors.

The leader in this movement, advocate Zaw Weik, confirmed this news.

When queried by the media, the Mandalay District election commission were unable to explain the details of the cases but the district commission chairman explained they came under Section 58(c) of Election Law, which concerns racial bias.

The police force called these leaders in this movement in on November 3 for investigation and then they were released later. The cases were then registered against them only on November 11 and 12, after the election.