10 are running for the Mon National Party (MNP), 5 represent the All Mon Regions Democracy Party and 4 are from the Women’s Party (Mon).
According to the Union Election Commission (UEC)’s stated candidate list, of the 19 Mon female candidates, 5 candidates will compete for Pyithu Hluttaw, while 11 candidates and 3 candidates will compete for Amyotha Hluttaw and State Hluttaw, respectively.
“Although Mon women like to participate in civil organizations, they do not really want to join politics. So, in order to be able to pave the way and lead women [in the future], I will compete [in the election], “ said Mi Lawe Han, who will compete in the Mon State Hluttaw of Ye Township Constituency (1).
In previous elections, the female Mon candidates who competed include Mi Nwe Nwe Lin of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) during the 1990 elections, Mi Myint Thant of the AMDP in the 2010 elections and Mi Myit Myit Wai of the AMDP in the by-election during 2012.
“Our MNP policy is to have many women participate [in the elections]. So, the party has worked hard to have all of those who submitted their candidate list to be elected as candidates. Because I also thought I should compete, I joined. Our party has 10 women to compete in the election,” said Mi Khin Nyut Yi, candidate to compete for Amyotha Hluttaw constituency (3), of Mon State.
286 candidates from 18 political parties will contest in Mon State and about 52 women out of all 286 candidates will compete in the elections.
According to UEC’s candidate list of all the political parties, in this 2015 election, there are 228 women candidates to compete for Pyithu Hluttaw, 119 for Amyotha Hluttaw and 444 for Region/State Hluttaw.
