The Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), which is based in the Karen State’s capital Hpa-an, will run for a seat in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) in Kawhmu Township, Rangoon Region in the upcoming by-election in April, the party’s vice-chairman Mann Aung Pyae Soe told KIC on 17 January.
“The Phalon-Sawaw [Democratic] Party is trying to cover the whole country. It will run for Pyithu Hluttaw seat in Kawhmu Township in the upcoming by-election. It’s not unusual for a Karen party to run in the town where the majority of the Karen people live,” he said to KIC News yesterday (17 January).
U Saw Tin Win will represent the PSDP and the party believes competition is more important than winning or losing the election, he explained.
“I hope the Karen constituents from Kawhmu will support the Karen party. I know the by-election will be difficult. If I have been elected, I will develop the livelihood [of the Kawhmu residents] such as water access and electricity. The party will come and help in the campaign when we draw near to the election,” said U Saw Tin Win.
The upcoming by-election will be held to fill 19 vacant seats – nine seats in Pyithu Hluttaw, three seats in Amyotha Hluttaw, and seven seats in state and regional Hluttaws.
A total of nine candidates will run for Pyithu Hluttaw seat in Kawhmu Township, including the candidates from the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), according to the statement released by the Union Election Commission.
The PSDP ran for Pyithu Hluttaw seat in Kyauktada Township of Rangoon Region in the 2010 Election and Pyithu Hluttaw seat in Tamwe Township of Rangoon Region in the 2015 Election but it did not win in both elections, according to officials from the party.
Translated by Thida Linn
