Khine Nwe Oo — Candidates for ethnic parties and independent candidates running in in Tanintharyi region. say they have been facing financial difficulties during their campaign.
Daw Pan Yi from the Mon National Party, who is running in the Kawthoung constituency tells BNI that she has struggled with her campaign budget. “There are only a few female MPs in the Parliament. I have been campaigning with my family’s financial support as I want to work for my region,” she said.
Independent candidate U Zaw Min Htike said candidates from ethnic parties and independent candidates have been unable to distribute enough T-shirts to members of the public who have been supporting their parties. He adds that they also have had difficulties using pamphlets and travelling to faraway areas. A sharp contrast with the their better funded opponents.
“I can’t use more than five million kyat. I’m running with the money I have,” he said. For many smaller parties the average candidates budget is less than five million kyat.
The Union Solidary and Development Party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the National Unity Party (NUP) are the main parties running in Tanintharyi Region.
Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.
