New Delhi (Mizzima) – An ethnic Mon party that fielded and won seats in last month’s general election has said it welcomes collaboration with any political party except the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.
The All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) is one of 22 political parties, along with six independent candidates, that secured parliamentary seats in the election.
“We will co-operate with others in the assemblies. Ethnic minorities have the same vision, mission and attitude. We want self-determination and genuine democracy. So, we’ll co-operate with ethnic political parties,” AMRDP chairman Naing Ngwe Thein told Mizzima.
“We will also work together with other pro-democracy parties if they have the same objectives and we will not discriminate on the grounds of race,” Naing Ngwe Thein added. “Sometimes, Burmese people are narrow-minded towards ethnic minorities. And the ethnic people think Burmese people are racists. Nevertheless, if we have political awareness and can learn tolerance, the problem can be solved.”
Sixteen of 34 AMRDP candidates emerged victorious in the November 7 national elections, in which the USDP claimed a clear majority, capturing 882 of 1,170 determined parliamentary seats. According to information compiled by Mizzima, the USDP won 259 seats in the People’s Assembly, 129 seats in the National Assembly and 494 seats in the States and Divisions Assembly.
The AMRDP has announced it would provide political training to elected lawmakers later this month.
To date, the USDP, led by incumbent Prime Minister Thein Sein, has not attempted to persuade the AMRDP to work with it, as it had done with another ethnic-oriented party, the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, though there appears little likelihood of such an offer being accepted in any case.
The AMRDP, founded by 15 Mon leaders, officially came into existence as a political party on May 14, 2010.
