Salai Ngai San, a founder of the former Chin National Democratic party which won Myanmar’s 1990 elections, told Khonumthung News that a new party called the Chin League of Democracy (CLD) has been formed to contest the upcoming 2015 elections.
Salai Ngai San will serve as chairman of the new CLD party, which is expected to be recognized as an official political party by the Union Election Commission in the near future. The CLS has already submitted the necessary registration documents to the commission and plans to nominate candidates for Burma’s 2015 general elections both in Chin state and other areas where Chin people live—including Sagaing Region, the Kalay-Kaw region, Rakhine State, Magway Region, and Yangon Region, according to Salai Ngai San, who will become chairman of the new party.
“We are waiting for the party to be officially registered. We have adopted a strategy to contest in the election in most states and regions in Myanmar where Chin people are located. At the same time, we will have public consultations in Chin state next month,” he said.
The party selected the following leaders among educated youths from across Chin state on June 28th in Yangon:
Salai Ngai San – Chairman
Pu Awm Haw – Chairman (1)
Pi Sung Zi Mang - Chairman (2)
James Dar Ro Thang – Chairman (3)
Salai Pum Za Pian Pi – General Secretary
Salai Aung Lian – Secretary (1)
Salai Jimmy Ri Za Bui - Secretary (2)
Pu Ngin Sung Mung – Secretary (3)
Pu Awm Khu Thang – One of 10 Treasurers
However, the new CLD party isn’t the only Chin national party that will participate in the upcoming 2015 elections. Other participating Chin parties include the Chin Progressive Party (CPP); the Chin National Democratic (CND) Party; the Ethnic Development Party (EDP); the Ashu Chin National Party; the Zomi Democratic Congress; and the Khumi National Party.
In addition to Salai Nagi San, the other founders of the Chin National Democratic (CND) party—which won the 1990 elections—were Salai Ram Lian Hmung and Dr. Lian Hmung Sa Khau.