IMNA reporter Mi Rai Maroah interviewed Nai Ngwe Thein, the chairman of the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMRDP) to order to discuss the party’s political situation, and the group’s ongoing campaign trip, as the party continues moving toward its goal of represent the whole of Burma’s Mon people in the upcoming 2010 election.
Q: : Please explain the current campaign of the AMRDP.
A : : recently, we finished a campaign in Ye Township, Thanphyuzayart Township, Lamine sub-Township, and Mudon Township in Mons State, and also Karen State, a week ago. Now we are campaigning in Moulmein. We are satisfied because it was a successful trip and because most people gave us encouragement.
Q: :Has the party had difficulties during the campaign trips?
A: : We have had a little bit of difficulty, but that is because the Mon people are inordinately cautious [about voting for a non-government political party]. Their caution could also affect the economic recession due to their being afraid of doing this, afraid of working at that, afraid of going there… But nobody needs to be afraid to vote for us, we can be as open and successful as we want. Most people welcome us. We also campaign legally.
Q: : Does the party’s campaign have problems because of the Election Commissions limits for campaigning?
A: : They [the Election Commission] has also limited our way of campaigning, but they [the Election Commission] didn’t dare to make [the rules] very strict. We also campaign with difference styles, three or four ways, such as one way among public people, another way among a department. But we campaign so not to have problems and not to break the rules of the election commission. For example, we don’t speak very loud outside when we go to villages. We, the Mon people also understand the rules. That’s why it’s easy to campaign and the election rules don’t stop us. But on the other hand, they [authorities] have threatened us. It is not government [in Naypyidaw], however it is their lower servants. We haven’t been afraid of their threats. Don’t be afraid. We don’t need to be afraid. We can vote for our favorite parties. We can do as we like. We will continue our campaign.
Q: : How did you have a successful campaign among the Mon people so far?
A: : People have supported us as much as we want. We also get much satisfaction. They [the Mon people] often didn’t know who they wanted to vote for, due to not so many [available] political parties, because they are uneducated, or because they lack knowledge [about Burma’s political situation]. Some don’t still know that the Mon have one political party. We don’t need to talk much, because people also welcome us because we also work to bring the truth to them. But it a one problem that [lower authorities] threaten us during this time. We also organize [for the elections]by sending people to educate the Mon people about the election before the election actually happens. We also campaign legally by reporting [our activities] to the Election Commission, and especially we persuade people to know about it [the election process] well.
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Q: : You recently elected a Central Executive Committee (CEC), who was elected and how are their duties divided?
A: : Firstly, we elected a first leader, second leader and another 13 CEC members and elected a Central Committee (CC), so all committee members total are 21. Among them, the chairman, vice- chairman-1, vice-chairman-2, secretary, secretary-1, and secretary-2, were given specific responsibilities. The others we didn’t give exact duties to. This has already being reported to the Naypyidaw, the new capital of Burma . The chairman is Nai Ngwe Thein, chairman-1 is Nai Hla Aung, chairman-2 is Nai Saik, the secretary is Dr Min Nwe Soe, secretary- 1 is Nai San Tin, and secretary-2 is Nai Khin Aung.
Q: : How is situation of the AMRDP needing to get over one thousand members to qualify for the elections?
A: : We have over a thousand; from only one township we got over one thousand! Now, 1,400 of our AMRDP members were reported to Naypyidaw.
Q: : Does the AMRDP currently have a comfortable financial situation, or financial difficulties?
A: : Truthfully, some of our difficulties are financial. But we don’t need to worry because there is a fixed price of 500 kyat for each member [from the public]. Every member pays 500 kyat to the AMRDP. Some well-wishers paid up until 100,000 kyat and some paid 10,000 – 20,000 kyat, so we are at the same time not wealthy but not and not poor. But we have had a few difficulties when our traveling fund is not sufficient, and we must use our funds carefully. For registering [the party] we paid 300,000 kyat, and 600,000 kyat was spent on propaganda for the party. And it also costs money opening offices. We also calculate who in the party it will be most convenient for to ask money within their native area of a township. If anyone ask us if we “have money”, the answer is no. But we are not poor, we just give everything to our party and our work. All money must go to our work. Some people have donated 200,000 -300,000 kyat, but some not much. Other people want to give us money, but cannot yet. Because we haven’t begun the voting process yet. For a candidate to be registered [to be voted for by the public] we need to pay 500,000 kyat for each to the Election Commission. We haven’t consider this yet. The party’s financial condition is somewhere between wealthy and not sufficient. Whatever the situation is, we will try hard.
Q: : How does the AMRDP expect to fare in the 2010 elections?
A: : Actually, we have calculated that we will win in Mon areas if we compete in those areas during the election because the audience there has interest in our Mon party, and loves our Mon nationality. However, as for competition we don’t need to worry if we all compete fairly. For example, we have to compete with other parties in Thaton, Belin, and Kyaikhto townships because those areas have less Mon people. But we don’t worry about other competitors in other areas if they work with fairness. Public people are always welcome. As our for our campaign trip, we will win whatever we win. Mon people are interested in our party and in the current situation. And we are the only Mon party. For example, the New Mon State Party in Mon areas also didn’t have problems with our party. We stand by our position.
