U Than Tint Aung, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) People’s Assembly candidate at the Mogaung constituency in Kachin State, says he is competing with 4 other candidates, the principal one being the contender from democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, National League for Democracy (NLD), according to Kawli Media.
“I’m quite sure of the support from the Tai Mao and Tai Long Shans in Namti,” he said. “But the support from the Taileng Shan side is somewhat weak. If the campaign with the Taileng community is successful, the White Tiger (SNDP’s logo)’s victory will be 70% certain.”
Other contenders are from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), National Democratic Force (NDF) and an independent, Dr Manam Tuja, formerly Vice President of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). “I don’t really consider them as rivals,” he said. “If anyone fighting for the democratic rights of the people wins, I’ll be satisfied.”
One of his aims is to achieve a Self-Administered status for Shans in Kachin State. The 2008 constitution has provided self-administrative status for Danu, Kokang, Palaung, PaO and Wa in Shan State and Naga in Sagaing Region.
U Than Tint Aung, 57 is a native of Mogaung, known by Shans as Möng Gawng (Drum City). His political experiences dated back to 1976, when he was dispelled from school for participating in the Thakin Kodaw Hmaing centennial protests. At present, he is serving as chairman of the Mogaung branch of the SNDP.
