The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) is unsure to secure the post for the chair of the leading body of the Danu Self-Administered Zone although it has secured over 80 percent of seats in the vicinity of in the Danu SEZ plant in southern Shan State, said Daw Ma Ma Lay who secured the upper house seat for NLD.
“There are four elected candidates in the Danu Self-Administered Zone. Three unelected MPs from the army can cast their votes for the selection of the leading body and the chair. The NLD secured three seats for Shan State parliament and the USDP, the rest. The one from the USDP is likely to continue to hold the rank of the chair, as the USDP and three military MPs are allies” she added.
If no agreement is reached among the organizations over the selection of the chair of the leading body, it will be decided by the secret voting system under Section 278 (a) and (b), Sub-section (d) of the 2008 Constitution, Sections 4 and 21 of the Self-Administered Division or Self-Administered Zone Leading Body Law.
U Nyi Lay Chan MP from Pindaya Township said: “It is the result of the 2008 Constitution and Self-Administered Division Leading Body Law or Self-Administered Zone Leading Body Law. We (NLD) tried to amend sections of laws in parliament in 2016. But the NLD failed. We discussed it with the lawyer U KO Ni but sadly he was assassinated. So far we could not amend these sections.”
Under the provision of the 2008 Constitution, the Tatmadaw has 75 percent votes to choose the leading body and the chair of Danu Self-Administered Zone.
Ko Pyae Paing Hmu Eain, a local from Pindaya Township said: “As Danu Self-Administered Zone has only two townships and there are four candidates elected by the public. There should be only one military MP according to the representation of a quarter. According to the current set-up, three from the army (75 percent) can represent now. We need to wait to see whether the army will vote for the NLD or the USDP.”
The UEC held the elections for seven constituencies in Pindaya and Ywangan Townships under the Danu Self-Administered Zone in southern Shan State. The ruling NLD secured six of seven seats there.
