The number of women candidates who have registered to run for the seat in Yangon Region Karen Ethnic Affairs Constituency in the upcoming election has exceeded the number of men according to the lists of candidates released by the relevant parties.

Seven candidates from seven parties—four females and three males—will compete in the constituency.

The female candidates are Yangon’s current Upper House MP Daw Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe from the National League for Democracy (NLD), Daw Naw Ohn Hla from the United Nationalities Democratic Party (UNDP), Daw Naw Lin Theingi Tun from the People’s Priority Party (PPP) and Daw Nan Thin Thin Khaing from the Union Betterment Party (UBP).

Candidate Daw Naw Ohn Hla said: “I plan to run for the seat in order to enable the Karen people to fully enjoy their rights and bring about ethnic equality.”

“I would like to urge the people to choose the candidates who can work for the Karen people in Yangon,” commented Daw Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe.

The male candidates who will run for the same post are: Mann Than Win Oo, Secretary of Yangon Region Karen Literature and Culture Committee and the Karen People’s Party (KPP), Saw Jet Kaw Htoo, Secretary of the Karen Lawyers Social Supporting Group, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and one from the United Democratic Party (UDP).

Naw Hser Hser, General Secretary of the Women's League of Burma (WLB) Myanmar said: “I am glad to see the inclusion of more females in the lists of candidates than before.”