The MNP already has plans to contest 57 constituencies in 15 townships, not only in Mon State, but in both Karen State and Tenasserism Division (Tanintharyi Region).

The Mon National Party (MNP) Logos

Nai Layih Tamarh, the general secretary of the MNP, in an interview with IMNA, said: “In Mon State alone, we will compete in nine townships. We will not run in Belin Township. In Karen State, we will contest in Kyarinnseikkyi, Hpa-an, Kawkareik and Myawaddy townships. In Tenasserism Division, we will compete in Yebyu and Kawtaung townships.”

He also said that although the MNP had already appointed its candidates, there could be changes. The MNP will publish the updated candidate list soon.

Nai Layih Tamarh will compete in Thanbyuzayat Township, while Dr. Kyi Win, Dr. Min Soe Lin and Nai Taung Shein, who all won in the 1990 elections, will contest in Mudon, Ye and Kawkareik townships, respectively.

It was previously reported that nine of the MNP election candidates would be women, but this has yet to be confirmed.

The AMDP plans to have over 50 representatives competing in the elections, according to Nai San Tin, Joint-secretary (1) of the AMDP.

He said: “We expect to have more than 50 candidates competing [in the elections]. But at the moment, we cannot confirm that. We will only know the exact details on 2 August."

The All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) Logos

The AMDP was founded on 7 April 2010. It participated in the 2010 elections and won 16 seats in the Hluttaw (parliament).

The MNP was founded as the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), on 11 October 1988. It competed in the 1990 elections as the MNDF and won 5 seats. However, its candidates were forbidden from taking their seats as the government annulled the 1990 election and disbanded the MNDF.

Following the 2010 elections, the MNDF reformed in 2012 but registered itself as the Mon Democracy Party before changing its name to the MNP in 2014.

Edited in English for BNI by Mark Inkey