An interview with Sai Leik, General Secretary of the SNLD about the discussion to review the party’s decision not to resister with the UEC and the political situation in Shan State
The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) which has won the strongest public support, has decided not to register with the newly-formed Union Election Commission (UEC). The party held a discussion in the first week of May 2025 to review the decision.
On the other hand, the military council is preparing to hold elections in late December 2025 or early January 2026. The junta-backed UEC has announced that 50 political parties have been granted registration, and 21 have applied for establishment.
Shan News interviewed Sai Leik, General Secretary and Spokesperson of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNLD), about the party’s decision not to re-register with the Union Election Commission (UEC), its relations with China, and the political situation in Shan State.
Q: We heard that the SNLD is reviewing the decision it made regarding registration with the UEC. What is the outcome of that review?
A: First of all, I would like to say that the SNLD did not discuss the issue of party registration with the UEC. That’s not the topic of discussion. There was absolutely no discussion about whether or not to register SNLD. We have already issued a statement since 17 March 2023. The decision has already been made not to register with the UEC. We reviewed this decision. I would like to explain that we are reviewing our decision based on the current political and military situation and how accurate and effective they are.
Q: What impact will the military council’s planned elections have on the entire country of Myanmar and Shan State?
A: Although they said the election would be held in December 2025, there is still no clear or definite confirmation as of now. The vice-chair of UEC was appointed. The junta said the election will be held. But the exact schedule hasn’t been released yet. He’s just talking about it because he’s been slacking off. We don’t believe the election will be held surely unless a precise schedule is released. That’s why we’re not in a position to make any independent analysis on the impact of the election.
Q: The leader of the military council visited Russia and met with the Chinese president, receiving support from these major countries. Since 2023, China has been urging the SNLD to register with the UEC and participate in the elections. What kind of pressure is the SNLD facing from China?
A: China is not putting any pressure on us. The Chinese government itself has not made any official offers or communicated with us directly. We believe this stance may come from the Chinese Embassy or the political personnel working there. We have only received the message that if the SNLD were to register with the UEC, it would offer more political flexibility. However, even if we don’t register, our relationship with them will continue. It would be beneficial if we could collaborate more extensively or have deeper discussions with them. At the very least, they have stated they could officially invite us for talks with high-ranking government officials. There has been no specific pressure beyond that.
Q: Does the SNLD still maintain the view that an all-inclusive dialogue should be held and a political agreement reached before the elections planned by the military council, and if so, why?
A: Given our current situation, I believe there is no better option or circumstance than this, and I continue to stand by that belief. When we talk about elections, it’s not about who organizes them. The issue isn’t about who holds the election, as the military controls it. Regardless of when the election is held, if there’s no political agreement, and particularly if there’s no shift from military dominance to a broader political framework that benefits the entire Union, there will be no real progress toward meaningful dialogue. If such a shift can’t be achieved, then no matter when the election occurs, the cycle of internal conflict will simply persist.
Given the absence of political guarantees for the next parliament and government, it is difficult to envision how peace and stability can be maintained in the Union. Therefore, without essential political guarantees—such as the establishment of a federal democracy, the right to self-determination, a constitution, and an electoral system accepted by the people—continuing along the current path under one-sided laws will not lead to a political solution. I would like to emphasize that our stance remains unchanged, as we cannot accept an election that fails to provide a genuine political resolution.
Q: When military leader Min Aung Hlaing made his second trip to Russia and met with the Chinese president, he stated that the election would definitely be held. On the other hand, do you believe that, despite ASEAN’s opposition, the military junta might use the elections as a way to seek a political exit?
A: His efforts seem to align with that goal, so it’s reasonable to assume he is acting with that intention. But to what extent can we trust him? In 2021, ASEAN made five key decisions, and among them, the most important were to establish a ceasefire, secure humanitarian assistance, and engage in dialogue. However, none of these three points have been realized to this day. There was no proper plan to hold a dialogue that included opposition groups; it ended up being limited to political parties close to him. After three or four years of promises, nothing has come to fruition, so how can we trust the elections he intends to conduct? Yes, he has made statements in forums like BIMSTEC, Russia, and Belarus, but the exact dates remain unclear. He keeps saying that it will be in December or January.
Now, what kind of election methods will they use? It’s very difficult for us to trust them without even having a clear election law in place. That’s why, even if he tries to use the election as a stepping stone for his own political exit, it still cannot serve as a way out for the country. It cannot lead to the emergence of a federal system that guarantees our right to self-determination. There is no exit for national reconciliation and stability in the country. That is my assessment.
Q: There is currently another Shan political party registered with the UEC, so could the SNLD’s decision not to register with the UEC shift the balance of political affairs in Shan State?
A: This is not something particularly special. The reason the armed revolution in Shan State emerged is because there has been no political solution and no true federal union has been established. To put it simply, they violated the Panglong Agreement. As a result, the revolution began in 1958.
To this day, what we want to achieve is self-determination and a genuine federal union. To achieve that, we cannot accept the 2008 Constitution. The SNLD itself engaged under the 2008 Constitution and tried to work within the legal framework. However, the military has never shown any willingness to cooperate. Furthermore, the military that took power in 2021 was not a government elected by the people. It is not a government that operates within the framework of the law. At that time, we could not trust or be assured that we would fully achieve the federal union we long for or attain full self-determination.
So, if the goal is merely to establish a parliamentary system or a government with public participation and move forward in that direction, it will still be under the control of those who hold power. I believe most of the public already understands this. This is simply another disguise or a different color for accepting a long-term military dictatorship. That is why we believe the ultimate decision will come from the people themselves.
Q: Do you have anything to add?
A: I would like to say one last thing: Our politics has been trapped under military rule for over 70 years. I want to send a message to everyone: Let’s engage in real politics, let’s embrace true nationalism.
Q: Thank you for taking the time to answer it.
A: Thank You.
Sent by Shan News