The Chin National Democratic Party (CNDP) has selected Pu Siang Mang as its candidate for the upcoming by-elections in Chin State’s Hakha Township scheduled for December 2014. The selection was made at a CNDP conference on June 1st by 160 party representatives. Pu Siang Mang will replace Pu Ngun Maung, a parliamentarian who was recently appointed to a ministerial position in President Thein Sein’s cabinet, according to a senior UN staffer and the Hakha Post.
After being selected as the CNDP’s candidate, Pu Siang Mang said: “I want to do three things: firstly, inform the government about the needs of the public—something they can’t do by themselves—regarding development. Secondly, our experience is that some development work was limited during the 16 years of military government. I want to continue with development work which is essential for [Chin] State.”
He then added that “Thirdly, other people aren’t aware of the needs of the Chin people and their homeland. We have to opt for self-determination and must have unity among us. In reality, General Aung San did not love ethnic people and we should protect our nationality because history has compelled us to [unite and form a Chin political] party.”
Pu Siang Mang is a retired of school teacher who has been working for the UNDP in Hakha Township for 16 years.
