Mi Jalon Htaw, 41, won the local election in Tarana Village Tract in Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State to become one of the only female village tract administrators in Burma.
Mi Jalon Htaw, Tarana’s first woman village
tract administrator (Photo: MNA)
She won 145 votes, more than all the combined votes cast for her three male opponents. Of those, 40 votes were cast for Nai Hamu, 28 for Nai Htun Sein and 16 for Nai Hla Htun.
Mi Jalon Htaw, who is also known as Mi Than Htay said: “It sets a good example for younger women to see and learn from this [election] for the future. For now, it is only about half the people that fight against the belief that only men can be reliable administrative leaders.”
She went on to say that she would work with youth organisations and members of village organisations to address current challenges and development needs.
Several villagers reported being delighted by the news of Mi Jalon Htaw’s election, and Mon women's networks said they were proud of the result.
According to U Aung Htiek, a Kyaikmayaw Township administrator, elections for local positions must be in accordance with the country’s village and ward administration laws, regardless of a candidate’s gender.
He said: “As everyone can see from this election, the leadership by the five members of the administration resulted in having one person elected according to the public’s wishes. It is not that important whether the elected person is a man or a woman. What is important is to lead and manage the [village] tract well.”
Prior to her election, Mi Jalon Htaw was Vice Officer-in-Charge of the Mon National Education Department in Thaton District. To contest the village tract seat, she resigned from her post after being granted five years leave by the Mon National Education Committee.
The Tarana Village tract includes Kaw Sor, Kaw Nont and Kyun Kon villages.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
