An interview with Mi Than Shin, Chair of Women’s Party (Mon) which which plans to contest nationwide, on their activities for the upcoming election .
Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stated on 23 May that elections would definitely be held by the end of 2025. He made this announcement during a visit to the Triangle Region Command in Kengtung, Shan State.
Following the junta’s announcement of elections by year-end, political parties intending to contest throughout the country, such as the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the People’s Party (PP), along with other ethnic political parties, have reportedly begun their party activities.
It is understood that 73 political parties are expected to contest the election organized by the junta, with nine parties competing nationwide throughout the country.
Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) spoke with Mi Than Shin, Chair of the Women’s Party (Mon), which plans to contest nationwide, to find out more about their party’s activities.
Q: What preparations is the Women’s Party (Mon) making for the election?
A: Well, we haven’t started any campaign activities yet. We’re still solely focused on local development in that area. We haven’t engaged in that aspect [of the election] yet, and we haven’t even considered it. Currently, the commission requires us to submit over 100 office locations. We’re working hard on that. Also, we don’t have any funds, so we have to raise funds ourselves.
As we are women, we haven’t had time to consider other things yet. We’ve only thought about how the party can sustain itself and our goal of reaching Mon people wherever they are. We haven’t considered the rest yet, you know. That’s the general idea.
Q: Why are you contesting nationwide in the upcoming election?
A: How should I put this? The reason we’re going nationwide is because our Mon people are dispersed throughout the entire country. Our only goal is to be able to reach those areas. We haven’t considered other places.
Because our Mon communities are scattered across Myanmar, if we don’t go nationwide, we won’t be able to connect with our Mon people wherever they are. That’s why we’re going nationwide. As for the other aspects, we haven’t considered them yet. We’re in a situation where we can’t consider them.
Q: Given that there are opposition groups who reject the election, do you have any security concerns?
A: As for our side, in terms of security, we just move around as usual. There are no problems. They don’t contact us, and we don’t contact them. Along our path, we prioritize our objective and the work we’re doing. We don’t look at or talk about other things. We act as if it’s not our business.
This isn’t being cruel, you know. It’s just that we can’t consider things that are outside our scope of work. As for other matters, we focus on making our journey smooth and our work successful, ensuring no one is in danger. Our group treats everyone we meet like our own children or relatives, so there haven’t been any problems. We are not in danger, yes.
Q: How do you view the current political landscape in Myanmar?
A: As for the political landscape, we want the best outcome. We want peace. We want to live peacefully. But, given the current situation, you could say our country is facing a certain kind of calamity. Because it’s hard to decide whether the country will be peaceful, or if there will be landslides or earthquakes soon. We don’t know who to blame anymore.
When we see this, we feel sad for everyone, you know. We feel sad for those outside, too. They are doing things they don’t want to do, you know. And the group inside, they are also frantic about how to govern and control the country. It’s hard for me to say who should be blamed on both sides. Because these earthquakes and other things, and COVID, these are not things caused by people. They are happening on their own. So, the current landscape of our country, I would say, is a type of calamity befalling our country.
Q: How successful do you expect to be in the upcoming election?
A: Yes, as for our party, we haven’t considered it at all. We also haven’t been able to campaign in that aspect. Since we haven’t done it yet, we haven’t thought at all about winning. However, I would say that what we aim for is to be able to work for the development of our Mon people in our region. We will strive for that.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add regarding the election?
A: Personally, I want everything to go smoothly. Both those outside and inside need to resolve things. For things to be resolved, I want both sides to make an effort, you know. Only then will there be peace. It can’t be achieved by one side alone. Now, both sides need to negotiate, especially the leaders. The youth just have to obey orders. The leaders on both sides should negotiate peacefully. Both sides are competing. If both sides keep competing, those who suffer are the people.
But we have to pass through danger in a situation where we cannot avoid going. That’s why the senior leaders should negotiate, looking at how much people are suffering. They should negotiate for things to go smoothly, so our country can be peaceful. That’s what peace means. At that time, if elections or whatever else happens, whatever is done, we just hope for a situation where everyone can be okay. That’s all I’d like to say.
Sent by IMNA.