Rare sighting of policy debate in Burma's election?

From our correspondent in NayPyiDaw

Social media in Burma is today awash with rumours that there has been an argument over a specific policy in Burma's election campaign.

Posts disagreed on whether the policy argument was over health, education, employment or economic policy.

If the rumours are true, it would mark the first time in the election that there has been an argument between parties over a specific policy issue.

Burma Tha Din has been unable to track down the source of the rumours or confirm a discussion on a specific policy between any of Burma’s ninety plus political parties has actually taken place.

We were unable to speak to either of the two people the NLD has authorised to speak to media about policy, but a spokesperson ‎told us that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly stated that people are voting for the party. Not the candidate or policies.

An exasperated Ye Htut, speaking on behalf of the government, told our correspondent; "We gave you reforms and democracy and now you want bloody policies as well? As our President says, there is enough change, so go away before I report you."

‎A spokesperson for the ethnic Karen Plone-Sgaw Democratic Party told Burma Tha Din; “Our policy is that we are Karen. So far we have had very good response from Karen people to this policy.”

‎Dr Maung Eicke Aye from the Arakan National Party told Burma Tha Din: “Our policy is to get rid of all Bengali (Rohingya). There can be no debate on this policy. If anyone disagrees with us, we'll burn their house down."