Akka
The first Mon political party to be officially registered since the 1990 election has now begun a series of campaign efforts throughout Mon State, in order to raise party membership prior to the election, according to Nai Ngwe Thein (Nai Janu), the party’s chairman.
The All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) began its recent campaign during the second week of June, focusing primarily on Ye and Mudon Townships for primary party membership, but have also campaigned in Thanphyuzayart Township and Lamine sub-township.
The recent campaign has consisted of presentations and speeches explaining their party’s policy regarding support for ethnic communities through economic development, and instructions on how to vote. The campaign so far has drawn support from residents and monks said party leader Nai Ngwe Thein.
“We got more power from our Mon people [than we expected],” Nai Ngwe Thein added. “I did not think before the people would support our party.”
The AMRDP campaign has the been the first Mon political campaign in many of the townships, though AMRDP campaign efforts had already begun in the towns when party meetings were held to select town campaign committees in mid May.
When the party campaigned in Mudon Town, about 100 residents joined the gathering to support the party, according to one resident who joined the party. At this time it’s not clear how many members have officially registered for the party.
The party has planed to campaign especially hard in the two townships of Mudon and Ye. The goal of these campaigns is to gather 500 members from each of the two, and to campaign in the other townships, though without a membership target.
The goal for the new campaign is to attract at least 1,000 members, the minimum party membership required by the Burmese government election commission prior to participation in the election.
At this point the AMRDP has yet to officially decide on weather to request a membership fee, or what it amount it might be. As previously reported, the AMRDP has been suffering from funding shortages as preparations and campaign costs have thus far have been covered by the 15 member committee that was selected in mid May to run the party.
The AMRDP was officially named and founded at an April 7th meeting this year and the party name was approved by the Burmese government on May 4th. The party also elected Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein and Vice-chairman Nai Hla Aung and picked a party flag and symbol that was submitted to, and later approved by, the Myanmar Union Election Commission on May 10th.
After meeting all significant election deadlines, the AMRDP is one of 35 parties now officially registered to participate in the 2010 elections at a yet undisclosed date later this year. The party plans to eventually run campaigns regionally in Mon State, Karen State, and Tenasserim Division, to attempt to win support from all residents, not just Mon people.
Both the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), have refused to participate in the coming election due to the tacit support participation would give the highly criticized constitutional referendum made in 2008 to Burma’s constitution.
