Mya Wun Yan — In advance of Sunday’s election, Shan literature expert U Sai Pha, from Namhsan in southern Shan State, shared his views on the election with the BNI Election Newsroom. Among his people, he’s highly respected as a teacher of Shan literature.
U Sai Pha downplayed the importance of the election when there isn’t peace with all the ethnic groups, and had sharp words for the cancellation of voting in some areas of Shan State by the ruling party Union Solidarity and Development Party.
“We don’t have big expectations for this election. The important thing is to have peace in the country. Development can only be carried out if there is peace. The sounds of gunfire need to stop in order to have peace. Gunfire has been exchanged in Kholam and Mong Naung for more than a week now. It’s not our duty to talk about this? We’re not doing it, just think about it. We can’t decide whether the election will be free and fair. The world is watching, yet polling stations have been closed in some areas of Mong Hsu even before the Election Day. I don’t understand.”
U Sai Pha questioned why voting has been cancelled in Mong Hsu, Kyethi, Tang Yang and Hopang townships in Shan State despite only some areas have been affected by clashes.
Fighting broke out last month after a massive offensive by the Myanmar Army against the ceasefire group the Shan State Army-North; armed wing of the Shan State Progress Party. Thousands of villagers have been displaced by the clashes.
If one of the two Shan parties wins U Sai Pha said he would be satisfied.
Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), (also called the White Tiger Party), reported U Sai Pha to the Union Election Commission after he gave spoke at a public rally for Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (also called the Tiger Head Party) in Panglong several months ago. They claimed that his speech insulted the dignity of their party.
U Sai Pha who is not affiliated with any Shan parties explained his speech mainly entailed the formation of the Union of Burma (Myanmar) after the Panglong Agreement. During his speech, he urged the nation to rekindle that spirit that was started over sixty-years ago, and look towards a future of peace and prosperity for the entire Union. He also suggested for political groups to avoid engaging in lawless acts during their campaigning.
Sai Aik Pao, SNDP chairman, reportedly threatened to take action against him if he didn’t apologize before the end of the election period, according to one local news journal.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
