The Pa-O National Organization (PNO), whose leader Aung Kham Hti, is Co-Chairman of the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) Shan State South branch, is reportedly having problems with local villagers during poll campaign, according to sources from the border-based Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO).
The problems are twofold: the first not allowing people to ask questions and the other, the language problem. The party was said to have used Burmese language instead of using the local dialect as most ethnic people in rural areas do not speak Burmese language.
According to PYO, during the party’s campaign in Hsaikhao, Hsihseng Township, on 8 June, the party’s campaigner, Major Zaw Wan reportedly told villagers that no one was allowed to raise questions because the group had come for lobbying and not for discussions, when one of the village headmen asked whether the audience could ask questions if they didn’t understand what was being said by party campaigners.
“We came here to canvass for your votes, to explain to you how to vote and whom you should vote for. We are not here to answer your questions and hold discussions with you,” Maj Zaw Wan told the gathering.
“An elder Phra [grandfather] Khun Chit Ley, former major in the PNO left the gathering after hearing Zaw One’s response,” a local villager said. “They [party members] also criticized the people.”
A similar incident occurred in Sawngpyawng village in Panglawng Township in early June. It was also language usage, said a Pa-O youth.
One of the party campaigners, U Aung Khin was said to have used only Burmese language that most people did not understand. “Villagers were very angry as they could not understand anything,” he said.
According to him, people were not interested in the elections though many political parties have come in and out for canvassing for votes as people were more concerned about the struggle for their livelihood.
“They go to listen to every political party. It doesn’t mean it is their real desire. It is only because they are afraid of threats.”
The PNO is one of the political parties that will contest in Shan State South. The party’s approval to float a political party was granted on 21 May. Since then it has been canvassing for recruits and for votes in areas such as Taunggyi, Hopong, Hsihseng, Panglawng, Loilem and other areas where the most Pa-O people live.
Many different ethnic groups live in Shan State South such as Shan, Pa-O, Yang Lam (Yinnet), Palaung and Chinese. Among them, Pa-O has the second biggest population after the Shan.
The group will contest mainly in its self-administered zone, as stipulated in the junta drawn 2008 constitution, such as Faikhun (Pekhon), Hopong and Hsihseng townships.
Besides the PNO, parties that will contest in the South are: the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), Inn National Development Party (INDP), Lahu National Development Party (LNDP), Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and National Unity Party (NUP).
Till date, 42 parties have applied to set up political parties. Thirty-three of the 38 parties that submitted applications for registration as political parties have been granted permission to register as political parties and the remaining parties are under scrutiny, according to New Light of Myanmar report on 24 June. But the report did not include party names.
There are so far 10 political parties that will contest in the whole of Shan State, North, East and South: the Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP), Taang (Palaung) National Party (PNP), Wa National Unity Party (WNUP), Wa Democratic Party (WDP), Kokang Democracy and Unity Party (KDUP), Pa-O National Organization (PNO), Inn National Development Party (INDP), Lahu National Development Party (LNDP), Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and National Unity Party (NUP). A Kachin party, called Northern Shan State Progressive Party (NSSPP), is yet to be approved by the Election Commission.
