Sai Aung Myo Lwin — U Lar Mar Lay from the Lisu National Development Party (LNDP) won a Lower House seat in Kachin State’s Sawlaw constituency. BNI Election Newsroom interviewed him to find out what direction the party plans to take to ensure rights for the ethnic groups.
Q: Can you tell us how your party plans to serve the public?
A: While campaigning I noticed many problems affecting the Sawlaw area. Although I won as a representative of the LNDP, my work won’t be exclusively for ethnic Lisu. For our country to develop it’s imperative to eliminate racial discrimination. My policies won’t discriminate on the basis of race or religion. We all need to join hands in demanding our rights to Parliament. No matter what government takes office I intend to cooperate with them on issues where there is a shared vision to achieve constructive outcomes.
Q: The NLD has more than enough winning candidates to form a majority government. At the same time representatives from ethnic parties in Parliament has decreased. What is your expectation for ethnic rights in this country?
A: The NLD won the election and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has promised the ethnic minorities will have rights. We will have to watch closely to see if this materializes. I don’t believe we will lose the rights we have even though many ethnic candidates failed to net seats in Parliament. There are many things we can do to help our people outside of the government.
Q: What are your first priorities after you take your seat in Parliament?
A: On a national level we will support actions to amend the 2008 Constitution. For Sawlaw, the area I represent, our first priority will be to improve roadways and communication. Secondly is education, thirdly the health sector and fourthly is information about existing laws. If members of my constituency understand their legal rights it will give them confidence to become knowledgeable about politics and this will open their eyes.
Q: Will you stand as an ally or opposition to the NLD in Parliament?
A: I will stand neither as an ally nor as their opposition in Parliament. I will support all issues beneficial for our country but will not support biased policies that afford little rights to our ethnic people. Regarding matters that stand in conflict with my personal conviction and our party policies, I will oppose them. When we share the same vision, they will have my cooperation.
Q: Is there anything else you want to add?
A: There’s only one thing I would like to say and it regards the NLD’s victory in the recent election. They won because the majority of the people voted for them, so I say to them to implement (policies that lead towards a) modern, developed and democratic country as is the desires of the people. I want it to be fair without bias. Don’t forget about the ethnic people. These kinds of policies must become a reality. If they don’t, it will be impossible for them to win in the 2020 election despite their recent landslide victory. As for our ethnic people no matter what government takes office there is no reason to oppose them so as long as it leads to development for our country. In this case, we should all work together for positive results.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
