Q: Why are you running for the Upper House in Chipwi, Hsawlaw, and Injangyang constituencies?

A: I’m running in these areas because these areas still lack rule of law. Also, the headquarters gave me the duty to run here.

Q: What’s the situation in the constituencies you are running in and how will you fill in the needs?

A: Rather than just the voters from this state, our party will try to obtain equal rights for all ethnic people in the country. Next is to achieve peace.

Another important issue is for the public not to live in fear and to live without fear.

The last issue is road and communication [infrastructure]. Road and communication are still very difficult in this area. Our party will consider the reason for this and carry this out during the next term of parliament.

Q: Can you share your experience in campaigning in the area and tell us what the needs of the residents and the area are?

A: They are living a modest lifestyle in the Chipwe area. Now is the IT era, but you can’t even make a phone call in that area. There’s no telecommunication.
If you continue from Chipwe to areas like Panwa and Kanphant…you are in China if you cross the creek.

On the Chinese side there are satellites and phones and the roads are very good. On our side, it’s difficult to travel.

I have to say the regional development is still slow. Moreover, we have to pay 35,000 kyats for gate tolls along the road to Chipwe.

We have to pay even more if we continue to travel to Sawlaw and Panwa. So, the commodity price rise due to these toll gate fees even though it shouldn’t because commodities are carried on this road.

There are hardly any rural health clinics. It’s the same for doctors. They don’t want to come to this area so people from here die even though they shouldn’t have died.
So, our party wants to uplift the basic lives of the people from the remote areas.

Q: People have been beaten and equipment was destroyed during your campaign rally on October 12th so what’s the local resident’s view towards the NLD?

Everyone already knew our party. They already knew us when we went to the areas with our party’s flag. Many residents have welcomed us on our campaign rallies.
Also, we have seen that the people’s militias [pyithu sit] are amenable towards us because they asked for our party’s logos, stickers, and flags. We have seen them traveling around after putting them on their motorcycles.

Moreover, the border patrol have given us a warm welcome. They are amenable. I want to say that a group of people are the ones who prevented us for campaigning.

Q: If you win in the election, what kind of promises will you give and what issues will be submitted to the parliament and carried out first?

A: They are health and the rule of law. I will work for these issues to be on the same level. Another issue is road and communication [infrastructure]. I want the actual required budget out of the allocated budget to be used for road and communications.

If the given budget is 100 kyats, I want all 100 kyats to be used. I will discuss this in details [at the parliament].

Q: Although the local residents know you, you are not allowed to campaign so what is your expected winning percentage for the election in the Kachin State’s Constituency No 5?

A: I expect to win 70 percent because the local residents knew us when we went on our campaign. Also, four parties and two independent candidates are running in the election so I think I have more chance of winning.

Q: Do you think other parties can win in this area?

A: I can accept if other parties win. We have to accept it if the ethnic parties win in the election.
But, I want any party to be allowed to campaign freely. If we can campaign like this, I will have to accept it whether whatever party wins.

If nobody is allowed to campaign and the area would be ruled with fear and arms would be used, this is an unacceptable situation.

If it happens like this, our party will report this in line with the election laws.
Name: U Kyaw Kyaw Oo
Age: 46
Party: The National League for Democracy (NLD)
Parliament: Upper House Kachin State Constituency (5)
Education: B.Sc (Maths)
Race: Bamar
Occupation: Media