Thwee Community Development Network’s chairman Mahn Thein Zaw said: “The ethnic parties have been defeated in Karen State because of their policies, strategies, performances and convictions. I believe these factors have largely affected their defeats. Another reason is their lack of political experience and campaign (skills) compared to the major parties.”

In the 2010 Election, winning candidates from ethnic parties were weak in implementing policies, and cooperating and communicating with the community he said.

Saw Kyaw Swar from the Karen State Civil Society Network (KSCN) said: “The Karen parties lost in Karen State because they were unable to set down clear policies. They were unable to stand firmly for the Karen people. Also, they were unable to reach all the areas due to a lack of budget. They weren’t able to campaign in the five-year period (since the last election) so they lost.”  

Daw Ngwe Myint, a local resident of Larkar Village of Hpa-an Township said she voted for the NLD rather than ethnic parties because she knew they could defeat the government in their area.

“I have voted for the NLD because I believe they will able to work to have my confiscated farmland returned,” she said.

The NLD won by a large margin in Kawkareik, Myawaddy, Hpa-an townships. They also won some seats in Kyain Seikgyi Township but not State Parliament.

Eighteen political parties contested seats in Karen State, including ten ethnic parties representing mainly Mon and Pa-O.

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff