Election of more women to high positions in the New Mon State Party is unlikely, say IMNA sources.
"It is not easy for women to become leaders (in the party) because the majority of party leaders do accept female leadership. They think that the women cannot help the movement in the long-term, because they think women are not strong. They do not believe women can lead the movement," said Mi Sar Dar in an interview with IMNA. Mi Sar Dar is the only female member of the NMSP Central Committee (CC).
"I think it is impossible to elect a woman as NMSP General Secretary like in the Karen National Union (KNU). There is only me in the CC and it is difficult to imagine becoming even a part of the Central Executive Committee (CEC)," added Mi Sar Dar. The KNU elected a woman, Zipporah Sein, to be general secretary on October 17th.
According to Mi Sar Dar, the Mon Women's Organization is expected to propose the election of more women to the central committee at a coming NMSP Conference.
The Conference, held every three years, will take place in December. Adding a new member to the CC requires agreement between standing members of the CC, the CEC, the general secretary and the party rank and file.
"I think there are few women in NMSP leadership roles because the male dominated leadership does not want to elect women. They think women will not bring strength to the movement," Mi Jarai Non, the Coordinator of the Women and Child Rights Project, told IMNA.
But, Mi Jarai Non added, the recent promotion of a woman to the KNU's General Secretary is a rare opportunity and a moral encouragement for women in all democratic and ethnic opposition movements.
Mi Sar Dar also offered words of encouragement to Mon women. "I want to say to Mon women: participate in organizations and in the movement in any part. Then, the leaders can appreciate and agree with women leadership."
The NMSP is the primary political group representing the Mon People. It was established in 1958, and fought an armed struggle with Burma's military government until a ceasefire in 1995.
