Q: Tell us about the main reason for running in the Tanintharyi Region’s Kawthoung Township.

A: Only two Mon candidates are running for the Regional Parliament and the Upper House in Kawthoung Township.

Q: What are the challenges in campaigning and what is it like campaigning as a Mon national?

A: There is only the financial challenge in campaigning. There aren’t any other challenges. The ethnic people support their ethnic parties, but we have received a lot of support from other ethnic people. According to the list that was collected last year, there are over 63,200 Mon people in the Tanintharyi Region.

Q: Can you explain about what you mean in your campaign when you said to carry out
important issues for the public rather than building roads and bridges if you win the election?

A: The public’s desire won’t be fulfilled just by having good roads and bridges. The public don’t have any jobs. Most of them are only doing random odd jobs. As this is a border area, I will prioritize the search for employment. I will also carry out children protection.

Q: As a female candidate, what will you carry out for the benefits of the local women since there are frequent cases of human trafficking in this area?

A: I will prioritize the uplifting of the role women and the search for employment. As I’ve already calculated the daily domestic costs of women, I will give priority on reducing all commodity prices.

Q: These are the tasks you will carry out if you win the election. What will you carry out if you don’t win in the election?

A: Even before running in the election, I have been carrying out activities at my own cost for all issues related to funerals.

I have sent children who are in trouble to suitable places and monastic schools. As I’ve been carrying out these philanthropic works since in the past, I will continue to carry them out for the rest of my life even if I lose in the election.
I can do more if I win, of course. I have already drawn a chart to make a plan for how to reduce commodity prices. I will be able to carry it out even if I lose, but I will be able to do more if I win.

Q: Do you have any political experiences in the past?

A: No, I haven’t, but I’ve always been active in [Mon] nationalism.

Q: What is the situation of the Mon National Party’s campaign and potential winning prospect since your party’s logo is similar to the main opposition the National League for Democracy?

A: The Mon National Party (MNP) doesn’t need to rally much. Even a child knows our party’s logo. It’s a star and a hintha [mythical bird] and everyone knows the hintha is associated with the Mon people so we don’t need to rally much. Mon people are familiar with hintha so they will vote for the hintha. But, the NLD may suffer if the voter wrongly votes for the MNP instead of the NLD. It’s something to be happy for our party.

Brief biography

Name: Daw Pan Yi

Name of Party: Mon National Party

Constituency: Tanintharyi Region/Kawthoung Constituency 2

Date of Birth: 1.6.1958

Age: 57

Education: 10th Standard

Occupation: Seller

Race: Mon

Religion: Buddhist

Translation by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.