The military council announced in a statement dated February 23rd that the third regular session of the Region and State Hluttaws (parliaments) will convene starting March 20th.
Due to the military coup, residents continue to face various forms of conflict to this day. Parliamentary meetings that represent the people’s voices have been suspended for 5 years.
As the public administration system has deteriorated, some people hope that the re-emergence of the State Hluttaw will help restore oversight and represent the public’s voice and will. However, others in Mon State argue that since the election was merely a sham, it is unlikely to bring any significant political change.
In the Mon State Hluttaw, which has 31 parliamentary seats, 11 representatives are from the Union Solidarity and Development Party, 8 are military-appointed representatives, and 7 are from the Mon Unity Party. One seat each is held by representatives from the National Unity Party, People’s Party, People’s Pioneer Party, and the National Development Party.
The Independent Mon News Agency contacted Mon residents to ask about their expectations for the parliament. The question posted was — Will the Mon State Hluttaw, which includes candidates with close ties to Mon communities, truly represent the voices of local people?
A resident from Chaungzon Township said:
“Most importantly, I hope the armed conflicts will come to an end. Since this parliament is somewhat closer to the people—except for the military representatives—we can say there is at least some connection. But whether it can truly represent the public’s voice remains a question. Many representatives tend to remain under their party’s influence, making it difficult for them to represent the people directly. Can they go against party policies? When it comes to issues involving military interests, no matter how much the people demand, I don’t think the representatives will dare to speak out.
As long as the military has not withdrawn from politics, I want to see military representatives, revolutionary representatives, and people’s representatives sitting together and actively debating for the country. If they must argue, let them argue in parliament—it would look better. It’s far preferable to fighting with guns outside and causing destruction to people’s homes.”
Another resident from Thanbyuzayat said:
“There’s nothing to expect because parliament is filled with the military and parties aligned with military influence. The election itself was held merely to seek legitimacy and to create an exit strategy for them. What can we expect from an election that lacks justice for the people?
In a parliament filled with people competing for their own interests and power, there will likely only be symbolic religious constructions and superficial promotion of literature and culture. There’s nothing to hope for politically.
If you ask whether women’s voices are being represented, there is also a tactic behind it. This time, there are many female MPs. That’s part of their strategy—to give space. But during campaigning, none of these women clearly stated how they would advocate for women’s rights. Some MPs may participate in certain activities, but since the coup, no one has spoken out about human rights violations. So they are unlikely to truly represent young people or women.”
A resident from Paung Township said:
“It has been a long time since the public administration system broke down. If parliament re-emerges, we hope it will present the people’s voice and will, leading to a governance system aligned with public wishes.
Although the USDP won many seats in Mon State, the Mon party also secured a significant number of seats, so there could be greater friction and debate. Parliament can only progress if there is some level of conflict and constructive friction.
Under military rule, from village administrators to many departmental officials, there have been activities that do not comply with the law. The military may not be able to control this, but if parliament functions, it may be able to oversee the government. Compared to the military administration, we hope to see the restoration of civilian governance. Since Mon State has many Mon representatives, we believe it is in a better position than other states and regions.”
