An interview with young candidate Salai Dokhar
On 30 August, the Union Election Commission issued the lists of candidates who will compete in the general election scheduled for November 8. A total of 210 candidates have registered to run for 39 constituencies in Chin State. The following is an interview with 27-year-old candidate Salai Dokhar who will run for the lower house constituency in Htantalan Township as an independent candidate
Q: Why did you decide to compete in the upcoming election?
A: I think the current situation is a good time to struggle for the country we want to see. There are different means to do this. Parliamentary politics is the most suitable route according to the current situation in Myanmar.
Q: Why did you decide to run for the seat as an independent candidate, instead of joining a political party?
A: 1. I have chosen to run as an independent candidate in order that I can work independently in the parliament for the country and reflect the voices of people.
2. I want to eradicate corruption. According to my experience if I join a party I will not be completely free to fight against corruption.
3. Also I decided not to run for the seat representing a party because I prefer to work in cooperation with the CSOs, media and NGOs.
Q: Why did you choose to run for the lower house parliamentary seat instead of Chin State parliament?
A: I have prepared a 30-point election manifesto for the country. I can only implement them in lower house and upper house national parliaments and not the Chin State parliament.
Q: Most of the candidates in Chin State are elderly. What is your purpose of contesting the election and what will you do to benefit young people?
A: I take the view that age is not a problem. I do not matter whether the candidates are young or old. But they all need to be proficient in modern technology. Youth is more proficient in IT and changing world politics, than the older people. I think the youth need to work for the country through the parliamentary path. The country needs MPs who can reflect the voices and needs of people at the parliament and the relevant ministries.
Q: What is your view on the current MPs and former MPs in Chin State?
A: Most MPs in the two parliamentary chambers stay very loyal to the party after securing their seats. But the actual duty of the MPs is to be close to the public. The needs of Chin people living in the different parts of the country are different from those of other ethnics. We need the MPs who can present the voices and needs of Chin people.
Q: What is your priority if you win the victory in the upcoming election?
A: The major problem in Chin State is corruption. I will mainly try to deal with this problem. I will reform the anti-corruption commission to directly report the corrupt cases in terms of village and regional level. I will gather technical assistance from other organizations and NGOs.
Q: As an independent candidate, what is your major challenge?
A: I am not well-known. So I have to do more than others in order to get wider recognition from the voters. I have to redouble efforts. The journey is tough. As you know I am trying to reach every village in cooperation with my friends. There are two major problems. The first one is I am very tired due to communication difficulties. Also lack of rest. All these factors put me under pressure.
Q: Do you have anything to add?
A: We need the strength of young people to bring change to the country. During two terms of the government, there have been very few young candidates. A township has around 90 villages. We need youth who are proficient in technology when connecting with the village administrators using technology. There is an urgent need for the submission of proposals at the parliament to make relevant ministries more aware of the needs of the people. What I want to say is now is the right time for our youths to be participating in the election in 2020.
