1/3/22, 1:23 PM Fresh evidence emerges of brutal torture of prisoners inside Mandalay Palace | Myanmar NOW The Facebook ad spending of the political parties The Facebook ad spending of the political parties Myanmar’s political parties have so far spent just a few thousand US dollars between them on Facebook ads for the upcoming election, even as lockdowns to curb Covid-19 have prevented on-the-ground campaigning in many places. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has put the most money into ads so far, with pages linked to the party spending $3,250 to boost posts. The People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) is a close second at $3,166, according to data from the Facebook Ad Library Report, an initiative by the company to boost transparency around political spending. Thura Shwe Mann’s Union Betterment Party (UBP) has spent $2,068 across three pages, while the Tai-Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party spent $500. Meanwhile the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) has instructed candidates and party officials not to spend any money on online ads. “We are going organic,” said Dr Myo Nyunt, a senior party official. “We will let our supporters spread the word. Currently, the party officials have been instructed not to pay for boosted posts.” https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/fresh-evidence-emerges-of-brutal-torture-of-prisoners-inside-mandalay-palace 2/20