YANGON, (Reuters) – Myanmar security forces have surrounded the headquarters of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the capital, Naypyitaw, and prevented party members in the compound from leaving, party sources in the building said yesterday.
Several trucks of soldiers and police officers arrived at the compound at around 10 p.m. on Wednesday evening, the sources said.
“We have not been allowed to move around since late yesterday,” said one party member.
Tension has risen between President Thein Sein and ruling party chief Shwe Mann over the selection of candidates for the general election in November, the party sources said.
Government spokesmen were not available for comment.
The USDP is comprised largely of former military officers and was created from a social movement set up by the former junta.
Both Thein Sein and Shwe Mann have suggested they would accept the job of president after the parliamentary election.
The military, which ruled Myanmar for 49 years maintains an effective veto over the political system and has resisted recent efforts to introduce constitutional amendments to loosen its grip.
The constitution reserves 25 percent of seats in parliament for unelected military officers. Proposed changes to the constitution require the support of at least 75 percent of lawmakers, giving the military an effective veto over changes.
A proposed amendment that would have seen the threshold of support lowered to 70 percent failed, as expected, to gain enough support with lawmakers in a June vote.
