“Ethnic leaders were the first ones to talk about federalism, but not many people heard what they said. People only knew about federalism after U Shwe Mann and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about it. Ethnic leaders know the needs of ethnic people. The media needs to give more coverage of their voices,” explained the prominent women's rights activist.

She made the remarks at the end of a conference between ethnic parties and ethnic-based media held in Rangoon earlier this month. Zahau, has been involved in human rights issues for many years and was considered a strong candidate for a seat in the lower house of parliament from her native Falam. She lost to the NLD candidate after a heated campaign.

“Ethnic parties have aims, but the small parties suffered from the influence of big parties. The media needs to give more coverage to the affairs of ethnic leaders,” said Daw Nan Yu Sann from the Kayin People’s Party, who ran for a seat in the Irrawaddy Region's Wakema Township.

Ethnic parties criticized the media for devoting coverage almost exclusively to the two major parties during the election period and claimed that the voices of local ethnic parties have been lost.

There have been concerns from some ethnic people whether the NLD leadership was really interested in representing the interests of ethnic people. The NLD elect MP Ma Thandar from Einme Township of the Irrawaddy Region downplayed these concerns. “Local ethnic people are in the NLD. They will work for ethnic affairs in their areas,” she said.