An all women political party led by Mon women and based in Mon State submitted their registration to the Union Electoral Commission (UEC) in Naypyidaw on 14th October according to the party chairwoman Mi Then Shin. (aka Mi Layai Mon)
If the registration is successful the party will become the first women only political party in Myanmar.
Mi Then Shin said: “We are registering the establishment of a new women’s political party in Naypyidaw today. It is aiming to improve women’s lives in general as well as women’s role in politics. If we don’t form a women’s political party women in our community will have a very limited role in politics and will be reduced to joining other political parties.”
The party wants to contest the forthcoming 2015 election in Mon State. If they do they will negotiate and cooperate with the other Mon political parties, the All Mon Region Democratic Party (AMDP) and the Mon National Party (MNP), according to Mi Then Shin.
She said that the party had been recently formed and consisted of nine central executive committee members, 15 central committee members and over 1,000 party members with the party leadership to be expanded as appropriate in the future. She would also like to see the party grow and represent other areas of Burma in the future.
Women League of Burma (WLB) General-Secretary Tin Tin Nyo said: “Establishing a separate women’s party is essential for women to achieve a leading role in politics. This is an appropriate time for setting up a political party for women. By setting up a female party we can fulfill the needs of women.”
Mi Then Shin said the new women's party will work with scholars to draft the party constitution, policies and strategies.
