Ministers of the military junta were said to have approached Shan communities in Mandalay, Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) and Mogok (Mong Koot) to nominate their own people to contest in Mandalay Regional Legislature elections as representatives of Shan nationality in Mandalay division, according to local Shan residents in Mandalay.
The Shans from the said areas have already met junta ministers three times since December 2009; twice with No. 1 Industry Minister U Aung Thaung, in December and in January and the third time with Health Minister Dr. Kyaw Myint in March.
The first meeting was held on 8 December at Kanaung Hotel on 22nd Road. The participants were divided into three groups; Elderly people like U Shwe Moe, patron of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in Mandalay, the second largest winning party in Burma and the top winning one in Shan State in the 1990 elections, Shan Civil Society group and Shan Literature and Culture Association.
Kyaw Thaung told the participants that the population of the Shan nationality was more than the number stipulated in the constitution.
According to the junta’s 2008 constitution, any ethnic nationality is allowed to contest in State or Region Legislature elections, if its population is over 5,000 in a state or region concerned. The elected representative will also be eligible to become minister of the state/regional government.
According to his statistics, the population of the Shans in Mandalay division is said to be between 80,000 and 100,000.
“I would therefore urge you to choose any of your respected people to contest the elections,” Kyaw Thaung was quoted as saying. “He ended his speech by saying please support us.”
However, the participants are yet to respond whether they will participate or not up to date. But according to the story doing the rounds in Mandalay three people have been recommended:
1. Sai Noom, Vice Chairman of Mandalay Civil Society Group and the owner of AD 1 Hotel and Galone Naga Robe Company.
2. Sai Kyaw Aye Win, the owner of Shwepya Min hostel and a former officer of Namkham Council.
3. Dr. Sai Kham Lake, well-known Shan composer
U Aung Thaung and Dr. Sai Kham Lake
Dr. Sai Kham Lake was said to have been suggested by Dr. Kyaw Myint, when he visited the groups on 21 March. “But we don’t know whether Pu Lake (Dr. Sai Kham Lake) has accepted or not.”
Dr. Sai Kham Lake and Dr Kyaw Myint are said to have been close friends. So are Sai Kyaw Aye Win and Minister Aung Thaung.
For the Mogok community, it would be Dr. Sai Naw, Chairman of Mogok Shan Literature and Culture Association. It is also not known whether he has agreed or not.
According to Sun Tzu, Chinese military writer, success in warfare is gained by “carefully accommodating” oneself to the enemy’s purpose.
