Elephants, horses and tractors brandished the National League for Democracy flag in an election convoy that attracted thousands on Sunday despite Covid-19 restrictions banning groups of more than 50 people.
The colourful parade in Mandalay region’s Madaya town was not the first to flout the measures in the run-up to the general elections on November 8, with another rally in Yangon’s Thingangyun township—a Covid-19 hotspot—on Saturday attracting about 1,000 people (stay-at-home orders also remain in place in Yangon).
But the Madaya event is probably the first to feature elephants—seven to be exact, according to participant Maung Khaing, who told the Standard Time Daily that 100 horses, 20 tractors and 19 decorated carts will also included. Buffaloes have also been used for other campaign events in the region.
Overall, more than 20,000 people from 288 villages took part, some of them donning traditional royal dress, a local resident told the news outlet.
The Union Election Commission yesterday said some candidates and their supporters were ignoring the Covid-19 guidelines and urged them to abide by the rules for the remaining election campaign time.
Restrictions on mass gatherings and stay-at-home orders will be lifted at polling stations on election day, stated the Health and Sports Ministry on Sunday.
Myanmar has confirmed 44,774 Covid-19 cases, 24,920 recoveries and 1,095 deaths, including 3,770 new cases over the weekend.
