Interview

Who Will Represent Shan State if not Us?

By THE IRRAWADDY Wednesday, July 28, 2010

COMMENTS (4)

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State mandates include farming, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, animal husbandry, education, industry, ie economic activity at the municipal level. As for electric power, state governments can employ small and medium electricity generating enterprises. 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: What would you like to say regarding a review of the 2008 Constitution?

A: That is the business of those who want to criticize the 2008 constitution. What I want to say is that this is an opportunity for us. After the election, we are going to have a state government with a state parliament and a Prime Minister. The flaw I see in the Constitution is that it guarantees the military an automatic 25 percent of seats in the state parliament that do not have to be contested. The civilian population will still have 75 percent of the representatives, however, so I don't see this as a problem.

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: When we contested the 1990 election there was no constitution. This time we have a constitution. As I have 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: What is your position on national reconciliation?

A: Let's talk about it in parliament.

Q: Is the SNDP determined to raise this issue in parliament?

A: Yes, we are. Unless we are united in building national reconciliation, we will fall further behind other countries. Even within ASEAN countries, Burma lags far behind the others. After the election, we must discuss how to bring prosperity to our country and not waste our time fighting each other. We should be fine by then.

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 out of them. Our only concern is to serve the national interest.

Q: What do you think about the EC not yet approving registration of Dr. Tuja's Kachin Party?

A: I don't know.

Q: What do you think of the movement behind the Union Solidarity and Development Party?

A: They are running their party just like we are running ours.

Q: Do you have the same opportunities as them?

A: Yes, we do. In fact, we can operate better than them. For instance, we can make organizing tours to villages. We just need to inform and submit our request to the township EC one week prior to our trip.

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: What do you think of the imprisonment of SNLD leader Hkun Htun Oo?

A: I think there will be general amnesty after the election. Everybody will be happy then.

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.

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COMMENTS (4)

Zaw Min Wrote:

29/07/2010

Instead of sweet and hard talking politicians and activists who are likely to get us all killed or exiled, I'd rather have this DUPED party leader who is more likely to lead us out of poverty, lack of human rights and absence of rule of law.
We need to walk the walk rather than talk the talk. There isn't much of a walker left inside our country but a lot of talkers who are safely outside the country. I hope our people know the difference.

George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:

29/07/2010

This guy's got it all DUPED to say the least.
If he thinks he can do anything 'substantial' about his Shan State not to mention Burma as well he needs to check his head first.
Of course he hasn't read Than Shwe's constitution yet I say.
He is day dreaming and running in a maze chasing a wild goose only I should say.
U Khun Htun Oo is serving 93 years for trying his bit to make his Shan States a better place to live.
Expecting the Shan leader's freedom under an amnesty in the post election era shows he is as NAIVE as a donkey he used to ride in the hills.
Than Shwe will declare anything other than a general amnesty as it would be akin to sounding his own DEATH KNELL and he knows that better than this Shan guy.
The monk murderer might as well give up his ill-gotten wealth, wife and his life as well rather than declare amnesty to all - people in exile - least of all U Khun Htun Oo, if this guy has any brains to know why.
Than Shwe's no idiot nor donkey for that matter lest he forgets.

Zam Mang Wrote:

29/07/2010

I wish all ethnic minorities can form a party like The Union Party, and become so strong to beat the USDP, it will be so nice. I am so glad that this Shan party is doing wonderfully so far these days.

Robin Khap Wrote:

28/07/2010

Very proud of this Shan leader. If we just talk negative about the 2008 constitution and 2010 election plan we can never move forward, let's talk in Parliaments, for political prisoners please wait until a new Government to grant amnesty, after that I hope you can do well in the next elections (after 2010)