Khine Nwe Oo — Although many female candidates contested the recent election in Mon State, only those from non-ethnic parties won seats. The National League for Democracy (NLD) won the majority of votes in the state.
“There were only three ethnic Mon parties. None of the female candidates from these parties have won. We believe only the party that represents the ethnic people can carry out ethnic affairs. We will need to closely watch how these candidates perform,” said U Michael from the Mon State Observation Group
In total, 11 female candidates have won 45 available seats in Mon State. With control of 25 percent of the state’s seats this will give them the leverage they need to advocate on issues affecting all women, explained U Aye Min Han, an NLD information officer in Mon State.
BNI Newsroom was unable to interview any of the winning NLD candidates due to restrictions by the party forbidding them from talking to the media after the election.
Mon National Party, Women’s Party (Mon), and All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) were the only ethnic Mon parties that contested in Mon State.
