| AUGUST, 2010 - VOL.18 NO.8 |
The two parties that dominated Burma’s last election in 1990—the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD)—have both been forcibly disbanded for refusing to take part in this year’s polls. However, their demise as officially recognized political organizations has given rise to two new parties: the National Democratic Force (NDF), whose chairman, Than Nyein, is a former NLD central executive committee member, and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), headed by Sai Aik Pao, formerly of the SNLD. 
Than Nyein, Chairman of the National Democratic Front.(Photo: THE IRRAWADDY)
The Irrawaddy recently spoke with both men and found them more focused on the challenges of the present than the injustices of the past. But they also remain committed to resolving the issue of Burma’s more than 2,000 political prisoners, whose fate continues to cast a shadow over an election that the regime hopes will erase memories of its past electoral humiliation.
Than Nyein: “National Reconciliation is Essential”
Question: What challenges do you face in the election?
Answer: There are many limitations. As the election is to be held within this year, we will have very little time for campaigning. Another one is financial constraints. Candidate fees are [US $500], much higher than they were in the last election, and it is very difficult to find funding.
Another problem is the media. We have not received fair treatment. We have been interviewed many times by the domestic media, but much of what we said was censored, and some media have even rejected us. We have relied on the domestic media to reach out to people, but it has not been as effective as we expected.
Q: Will the NDF only contest the election in some areas?
A: We still can’t say exactly where we will contest and don’t know which other parties will contest where. We can’t work equally in all areas throughout the country. We don’t have enough candidates. The strength of local support for our political course is more important than anything we can do, so we will contest the election in areas where our supporters can work efficiently.
Q: What do you think of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)?
A: It is not very nice to see that incumbent ministers are currently involved in the USDP. What we want is a fair competition for the open seats with equal participation by all. That’s how it should be if we are genuinely marching towards democracy.
Q: Does the NDF have any plan to form an alliance?
A: I think it would be pretty difficult to form an alliance, since we don’t have much time left. In principle, we would prefer not to compete directly with political parties that have a genuine will to create a true democratic Burma, so we will try to consult with them as much as we can in the time we have left.
Q: Which ethnic parties do you think you might cooperate with?
A: Our position on ethnic parties will be different from that of the NLD in the 1990 election. What I mean is that we don’t have any plan to heavily compete against ethnic parties in different states and ethnic-controlled territories. Of course, exceptions exist in some places. In such cases, we will ask our members there to consult and cooperate with pro-democracy and ethnic parties focusing on those areas.
Q: What is your position on national reconciliation?
A: National reconciliation is the main issue and it is an essential part of our party’s policy. We have already accepted that without national reconciliation, problems between ethnic groups and races cannot be settled and a peaceful co-existence will not be possible in the long run.
Q: What is the NDF’s position on political prisoners?
A: Our demand for political prisoners is the same as before. We were also political prisoners. Our call for their immediate release is something we can never change. The authorities have pledged many times for the inclusiveness of the election, so we’d like to urge them to act accordingly as soon as possible so that all stakeholders will be able to participate in the election. If it doesn’t happen, once our party candidates have the chance to sit in the parliament after the election, our first proposal will be for their release and for amnesty.
Q: Burma is earning billions of dollars from the sale of its resources, but most of it has been spent on the military, with very little going to the health and education sectors. What will your party do to change this situation?
A: There is no transparency, so we don’t know exactly how much income we have and how much we spend on which sectors. However, if there is a parliament in the future, the government will have to submit its expenditure and annual budget to the parliament, so we will then try to say what should and shouldn’t happen.
Sai Aik Pao: “Who Will Speak for Shan State?”
 |
| Sai Alk Pao, Chairman of the Nationalities League for Democracy.(Photo: THE IRRAWADDY) |
Answer: Our main focus is Shan State, but we will also contest the election in selected townships in Kachin State, Karenni State and Mandalay Division. Our party’s signboards are already in place, and we have already formed township-level executive committees.
Q: What is your main reason for taking part in the election?
A: Some parts of the 2008 Constitution are unique. Similar to the American federal system, we will have a system in which each state and division can have equal representation in the upper house, which offers 12 seats to each state and division regardless of size. So it is a fair system, which is one of the reasons we are going to contest this election.
Another thing the 2008 Constitution gives us are the region and state parliaments that are made up of two representatives from each township. We will also have a prime minister and other ministers governing each state. We see the 2008 Constitution as a chance, as a big opportunity for our ethnic nationalities.
The 2008 Constitution distinguishes between the mandate of the central government and that of the states. State mandates include farming, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, animal husbandry, education, industry, i.e., economic activity at the municipal level. We have a lot of authority. This is our opportunity. If we don’t compete in the election, we can’t expect anything. But if we do, we can expect a state government that favors our interests.
Q: You were a member of the SNLD before, but it has decided not to take part in the election and yet you will. Why?
A: As I explained earlier, we do have a lot of opportunities, so if we don’t form a Shan political party, who will take care of Shan State? We are working with our hearts full of patriotism. If we don’t contest, who will speak for Shan State? It’s no use discussing it at teashops, we have to debate it in parliament. This is our opportunity. We will demand our rights, and we can talk about them within the framework of the Constitution.
Q: Is the SNDP determined to raise the issue of national reconciliation in parliament?
A: Yes, we are. Unless we are united in building national reconciliation, we will fall further behind other countries. Even within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Burma lags far behind. After the election, we must discuss how to bring prosperity to our country and not waste our time fighting each other.
Q: Do you have plans to form an alliance or work with any other party?
A: We will make friends with every party and avoid making enemies of them. Our only concern is to serve the national interest.
Q: What is your party’s position on political prisoners?
A: I think the new government will grant a general amnesty to political prisoners after the election. We have to do this. Putting political prisoners in jails is wasting our work force. If these people are free, we can listen to their thoughts, and that can be useful. By working together, we can build friendship and trust between different ethnic nationalities.
Q: Does your party’s policy mainly focus on the interests of Shan nationalities and Shan State?
A: We are not only focused on Shan State but will be working for other states and divisions as well as for the whole Union. I trust that some of our party representatives will be seated in the lower and upper houses so we will be working together.