Ethnic parties have made achieving peace, ethnic rights, equality and self-determination as prime issues in their election campaign. Rights. Here are some voices of leaders from ethnic parties

 

Mahn Aung Pyi Soe, Chair of Karen National Democratic Party

I never believed that we had really achieved peace after signing the NCA. I understand that the NCA is onl signing a ceasefire. I never assumed that the country would enjoy peace after achieving a ceasefire. I want genuine peace.I assume that the real peace will only be achieved after the disappearance of various deprivation suffered by our people over many years. We will continue to struggle to find a peace solution to peace around the negotiating table. The war will not come to an end as long as the situation continues in the form of armed conflicts. We will find a way to amend the constitution as much as possible. We can only build a democratic union if the constitution is amended.

 

I have studied negotiations and discussions being made in Mizoram State in India which continues while the fighting is still taking place. They achieved some success. I am committed to using each and every possible way to achieve peace.”

 

U Kwan Gaung Aung Kham, Vice-Chair-2 of Kachin State People’s Party

 

“We cannot achieve lasting peace unless we make a big effort. In 2010 the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) formed the government. But the country did not achieve any peace .The situation became worse. Between 2015 and 2020, the National League for Democracy (NLD)- led government has governed the country. Here is again no peace.

 

We are forced to suffer. That is why we have committed to making strenuous efforts for peace, if we have success in the election. I would like to coordinate with all ethnic armed organizations and all political parties to achieve a genuine peace through the parliamentary path. We can do nothing without a dialogue with the EAOs over peace. Another point is to build a genuine federal democratic union.

 

U Thae Yal, Secretary of Kayah State Democratic Party

 

We will try our best to build up peace, if we win sas in the election. We have a plan to find ways of peace-building, after taking account of the policies and attitudes of the army and the EAOs. It is also important that the public want us to continue the peace process. It is not an easy task. I assume we need to arrange for the resettlement of refugees, after building up the genuine peace agreement. Our main priority is peace.”

 

U Ngai Sark, Chair of Chin National League for Democracy

 

The Chin National League for Democracy is a merger of three Chin parties. I was a member of the 48-member Union and Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UDDJC). I also led the political parties group, which drafted the framework for political dialogue.

 

It is very difficult to amend the constitution in parliament. I have a plan to implement peace and a federal union through the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and political dialogue framework.