INTERVIEW

COMMENTS (0)

RECOMMEND (370)

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PLUSONE

MORE

E-MAIL

PRINT

TEXT SIZE

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)

Question: As a Shan party, in which areas will the SNDP contest the election?

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.