1/3/22, 1:23 PM Fresh evidence emerges of brutal torture of prisoners inside Mandalay Palace | Myanmar NOW Rallies banned Rakhine state has been under partial lockdown and a nighttime curfew since Covid-19 infections began to surge there late last month, meaning parties have been unable to start their campaigns. And a de-facto internet ban remains in place in seven of the state’s townships, with users only allowed access to 2G internet and therefore unable to send or view pictures and videos, or to load many pages. With 29 of Yangon’s 44 townships under partial lockdowns and travel in and out of the city banned, traditional canvassing in Myanmar’s most populous city has also been stifled. Facebook pages sponsored by the People’s Pioneer Party The Union Election Commission has warned that parties must follow health ministry guidelines while campaigning. Rallies with more than 50 people are banned and attendees must stand at least six feet away from each other. Campaign events in areas that are under full or partial lockdown because of a spike in local cases are banned entirely, the ministry said. While the NLD has shunned online ads, its leaders have set up personal Facebook pages in recent months that they will use to reach voters ahead of the November 8 poll. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other senior figures have all opened personal accounts. Dr Myo Nyunt said the party was still focussed on its ground game for the coming weeks. “We will try to campaign door-to-door as far as possible,” he said. While the USDP is the top spender on Facebook, party spokesperson Nan Myamya Mimi Zaw said it was not the party’s key focus. “We have Facebook pages. We are active on Facebook but we are not doing anything extraordinary,” she told Myanmar Now. The People’s Pioneer Party, by contrast, is doing most of its campaigning on social media because of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, said Kaung Min Khat, who handles the party’s online activity. “We ask our candidates to publicise themselves on their Facebook pages. The party’s central committee also has plans to boost them, and get them in touch with the voters,” he said. 2020 Election https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/fresh-evidence-emerges-of-brutal-torture-of-prisoners-inside-mandalay-palace 4/20