The SNLD’s spokesperson Sai Leik said a senior official from the President’s Office contacted the SNLD via telephone and asked their wish on this position.

“[Nobody] can decide on this issue alone. We have to hold the central committee meeting to decide on this issue. But, we have been offered a minister position in the past and we rejected it. So, we told them that the offer for deputy minister position would probably be rejected as well,” he told the Shan Herald.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) directly offered the Union Minister of Ethnic Affairs position to the SNLD’s general secretary when it was forming the new administration after winning the 2015 General Election.

“[People] have misunderstandings towards the SNLD. They though we rejected the Ethnic Affairs Minister position because we were not offered the Vice President or Shan State Chief Minister position. The SNLD didn’t accept the Ethnic Affairs Minister position due to the task [of the minister]. If the Ethnic Affairs Minister’s duty is to work for union peace, coordinate with ethnic armed organizations, political parties, and social activists and discuss with the government and the Tatmadaw and build peace, the SNLD might have accepted the offer,” Sai Leik continued.

The Shan Herald learned that the government has also contacted a former Pyithu Hluttaw MP from the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) for the deputy minister position.

Mann Win Khaing Than (Karen), U Aye thar Aung (Rakhine), one Kachin national and one Mon national become ministers in this current administration. But, no Shan nationals have received high-ranking positions in the current government.