In an interview with Chin World, U Om Yaw explained that he is running in the election in line with the will of the Chin people.  He also predicts that he win over 60 percent of the votes.

Q: Please introduce yourself and your native town.

A: My name is U Om Yaw.  My native town is in Chin State's Hlwatee village, Mindat Township.

Q: I want to know about your education. Please also tell us about your job positions while

you were working as a civil servant.

A: I passed my matriculation exam in 1973.  At that time, Burma was under a new administration and staff were being recruited at the ward and village level so I started working as a clerk.  While I was serving as a township deputy chief officer and deputy chief officer of the Mindat Township General Administration Department in 1990, deputy chief officers were assigned to also serve as the secretary of the Township Peace and Development Council.   

At the same time I served as chairman of the Mindat District Staff Cooperative Association [beginning in 1992].  After serving seven years in Mindat Township, I was assigned to serve as deputy chief officer in North Dagon Myothit Township in the Rangoon Region.  After I was promoted, I served as chief officer in Sittwe District General Administration Department in Arakan State.  I also served as a township administrator in Paletwa town in Chin State in 2004. Then, I moved back to Sittwe District General Administration Department in 2005 and retired as chief officer in March 2007 after serving 43 years as a civil servant.

I also worked as an instructor at Burmese Bible School in Insein Township in Yangon.  Since the Chin National League for Democracy was established on April 1, 2014, I have been working full time for this party.

Q: Under which constituency will you run in the 2015 Election? Please tell us your intention
for running in the election since you served as a civil servant in the past.

A: Although I feel delighted to have entered politics after I retired, I am running in Mindat Township State Parliament Constituency No 2 at the request of people in the area who want democracy and goodwill during this transition period.

Q: As you are serving as vice-chairman of the CLD, how much do you expect your party to win in Chin State?

A: The CLD will run in seven townships in the Chin State, four townships in Arakan State,
and Tamu and Kalay townships in the Sagaing Region.  By running in Chin State, we expect to win over 60 percent of the votes due to the desire of the Chin people.

Q: Since you are going to compete against the current chief minister in your constituency,
what have you prepared? How much confidence do you have [in winning the election]?

The people who desire true democracy during this transition period invited us so our success is in the hands of the people. I expect to succeed. I believe I will be successful in the future based on the past and current situation.

Q: Are there any challenges in running against the chief minister?

A: There aren’t any challenges because the public is familiar with us. They knew about us so
there aren’t any difficulties.

Q: How much success has the campaign received?

A: We have to campaign on foot in the Chin Hills with difficulty as there are no bridges and
roads as a result of the natural disaster. When we meet with the public, we feel happy just like
the song “We are exhausted, but we aren’t exhausted.”  When we are able to meet with 50
percent of the people, our success rate is around 50 percent.

Q: What’s your view on pledges made by candidates during the campaign period?

A: Some candidates promise to build bridges, roads, schools, and hospitals during their

campaign.  This the government's job.  When I was serving as a township administrator,

there are the things carried out by the township and me.  This is the government’s job. The

administration, administrator, general administration department and the remaining

development are the duties of the authorities.

Q: What kind of programs will you carry out for the Chin people if you are elected?

A: If I’m elected, the first priority for the Chin people is transportation.  If the public give me the

duty, I will carry this out as my first priority.  If there is good transportation for the Chin people,

they will eventually understand their own goals such as education, health, and finance.

Q: What does Chin State need?

A: Chin State needs individual income and each family member needs an income. I believe they

should work in agriculture, livestock breeding, and tourism industries for each person in the

Chin State to have an income.  In agriculture, the main product of the Chin State is East Indian

Arrowroot.  Also, the livestock breeding of gayal, a rare species in the world, and the tourism

industry is suitable for Chin State….if we were to carry them out, I believe the current

status of Chin State will develop from the poorest to a world standard one.

Q: What do the Chin people demand?

A: The Chin people are demanding legislative autonomy especially for land issues. We are not

allowed to own the lands of our ancestors, according to the land law. That’s why we are

demanding a federal union to have both legislative autonomy and autonomy.