Muslims in Meiktila, which was ravaged by communal violence in 2013, said they are afraid to vote for the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) for election. They fear that being identified with the NLD could bring further religious violence in the Mandalay Region town. “There are many political parties running in Meiktila. Most Muslims are afraid of further religious conflicts if they vote for the NLD”, U San Win Shein, association secretary of the Interfaith Friendship Group for Meiktila district. Dozens of people were killed in March 2013 and thousands displaced after outbreaks of anti-Muslim violence in Meiktila. “Muslims involved in campaigning have been asked if they want to see further religious conflict. That shows there is still fear”, he said, one third of among 15,000 Muslims voters worried about the risk of violence. In the 2012 by-election, NLD candidate U Win Htein won Pyithu Hluttaw seat for Meiktila Township. “The people who attacked Muslims in 2013 asked their victims if they were NLD supporters. That’s why I’m afraid of it happening again if NLD wins”, said Muslim resident U Ba Kyu. (Ref: Myanmar Times daily, issue 164, Pg 8, Nov 6)