Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMRDP), formed on 7th April 2010, plans to take part in the general election to be held later this year.
The group is made up of 15 mostly ethnic Mon members from all over Burma. The Union Election Commission (UEC) allowed the party to form as a political party on 24th May and issued it registration number 51. Per UEC elections laws, AMRDP is the only Mon political group taking part in the impending elections legally. Many other Mon political groups have declined to participate in the elections due to the controversial 2008 Burmese Constitution.
Party leader Nai Ngwe Thein is seventy-one years-old and is from from Htone Eine village in Karen State. He is a retired Assistant Education Officer of Mon State, Education Officer in Pegu Division and Kachin State, and Director of Upper Burma Basic Education Department. The party also includes Veterinary Doctor Nai Hla Aung and other retired government officers of the education, health and law departments.
Mizzima spoke with Nai Ngwe Thein on AMRDP’s policy matters. Describing the main points of the party’s policy, Thein listed gaining democratic rights, establishing ethnic unity, getting ride of corruption and bribery within government and working towards social development and world social order as priorities.
Thein expressed frustration on the current state of the economy being controlled by the government. Citing an example of farmers not being able to sell produce as they wish, Thein advocated for a free trade economy to allow the ethnic people to receive the human, social and cultural rights they are currently being deprived.
“We shall establish an appropriate and suitable free market economy,” Thein said. “We will work for growing foreign investment and development of production through modern technology, which means building the industrial sector in economy. Our country will progress only when we can develop our industrial sector successfully. Now the situation is upset and frustrated”.
The All Mon Regions Democracy Party has not had difficulty meeting the minimum party membership of 1,000 members. Visiting people from Yay, Thanphyu Zayat, Mawlamyaing and Mudon townships, the group spoke with communities about its main party policies and gauging interests from prospective members.
Thein said there are many people who are interested in the party being the sole Mon party in the election. When asked about his opinion of the rivaling and armed Mon State Party, Thein was hesitant to criticize the party’s policies.
He added that AMRDP plans to campaign mostly in the 10 Mon states, but also will contest in two townships in Karen State, one in Tanintharyi State and one in the Pegu Division to total 15 townships. AMRDP thinks it has a good chance of winning the mostly ethnic Mon people inhabited areas, Thein Said.
“We will contest in all legislative bodies namely Union Parliament (Lower House), National Parliament (Upper House) and States and Regions Assembly,” he said. “There will be at least four candidates from our party in each of these townships.”
National League for Democracy recently denied contesting in the upcoming election because of the junta’s refusal to release political prisoners, including party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and fallacies with the controversial 2008 Constitution. Although there are components to the Constitution that AMRDP does not agree with, Thein said there is no alternative way to take part in the future governmental practices in Burma.
“Only after contesting and winning in this election, we can say please amend this one, transfer this one et cetera,” he said. No matter what it is genuine or not genuine, we shall contest in this election. The people are just guessing and speculating on it. We shall contest in this election peacefully and honestly.”
Source:http://mizzima.com/news/election-2010/4075-all-mon-regions-democracy-party.html
The group is made up of 15 mostly ethnic Mon members from all over Burma. The Union Election Commission (UEC) allowed the party to form as a political party on 24th May and issued it registration number 51. Per UEC elections laws, AMRDP is the only Mon political group taking part in the impending elections legally. Many other Mon political groups have declined to participate in the elections due to the controversial 2008 Burmese Constitution.
Party leader Nai Ngwe Thein is seventy-one years-old and is from from Htone Eine village in Karen State. He is a retired Assistant Education Officer of Mon State, Education Officer in Pegu Division and Kachin State, and Director of Upper Burma Basic Education Department. The party also includes Veterinary Doctor Nai Hla Aung and other retired government officers of the education, health and law departments.
Mizzima spoke with Nai Ngwe Thein on AMRDP’s policy matters. Describing the main points of the party’s policy, Thein listed gaining democratic rights, establishing ethnic unity, getting ride of corruption and bribery within government and working towards social development and world social order as priorities.
Thein expressed frustration on the current state of the economy being controlled by the government. Citing an example of farmers not being able to sell produce as they wish, Thein advocated for a free trade economy to allow the ethnic people to receive the human, social and cultural rights they are currently being deprived.
“We shall establish an appropriate and suitable free market economy,” Thein said. “We will work for growing foreign investment and development of production through modern technology, which means building the industrial sector in economy. Our country will progress only when we can develop our industrial sector successfully. Now the situation is upset and frustrated”.
The All Mon Regions Democracy Party has not had difficulty meeting the minimum party membership of 1,000 members. Visiting people from Yay, Thanphyu Zayat, Mawlamyaing and Mudon townships, the group spoke with communities about its main party policies and gauging interests from prospective members.
Thein said there are many people who are interested in the party being the sole Mon party in the election. When asked about his opinion of the rivaling and armed Mon State Party, Thein was hesitant to criticize the party’s policies.
He added that AMRDP plans to campaign mostly in the 10 Mon states, but also will contest in two townships in Karen State, one in Tanintharyi State and one in the Pegu Division to total 15 townships. AMRDP thinks it has a good chance of winning the mostly ethnic Mon people inhabited areas, Thein Said.
“We will contest in all legislative bodies namely Union Parliament (Lower House), National Parliament (Upper House) and States and Regions Assembly,” he said. “There will be at least four candidates from our party in each of these townships.”
National League for Democracy recently denied contesting in the upcoming election because of the junta’s refusal to release political prisoners, including party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and fallacies with the controversial 2008 Constitution. Although there are components to the Constitution that AMRDP does not agree with, Thein said there is no alternative way to take part in the future governmental practices in Burma.
“Only after contesting and winning in this election, we can say please amend this one, transfer this one et cetera,” he said. No matter what it is genuine or not genuine, we shall contest in this election. The people are just guessing and speculating on it. We shall contest in this election peacefully and honestly.”
Source:http://mizzima.com/news/election-2010/4075-all-mon-regions-democracy-party.html
Comments
Post a Comment