interview with Daughter of late Prime Minister U NU

If Myanmar could hold its Democracy election in 2010, the elected representatives of people and military side will be meeting in senate for the first time in 22 years. It may be the first time people from both side will work together for its own country. On the other hand there are many difference opinions on government approved referendum and coming election. At the same time, Canada-based United Democratic Party of Myanmar (UDP) has announced their executive member list which includes Daw Mya than than Nu, Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Si Ba Swe, the children of late leaders. So we explore the ideas of Daw Mya Than Than Nu, who is a daughter of late prime minister U Nu as below.




QUESTION ….. We saw your name in the list of executive members of Canada-based United Democratic Party of Myanmar (UDP).What you would like to say about that? Do you have a plan to enter coming election as UDP member?


Daw Mya Than Than Nu………….It is a just their announcement. I don’t know what is their attitude on it? As far as I know, there is no connection between the exiled political parties and local activists. For me, I have no problem whoever they are. I can cooperate with everyone. Some happy when they heard UDP’s announcement. I really appreciate that their saying about to find a solution together on the issues of difficulties which Myanmar people are facing.


QUESTION …………..If so, will u take place in election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu… We are still watching the situation. So Far, there are no election committee and no election law. For me, I want to contest in election. I want to show I am the same with the people. I want to take part in election as individual or as a party candidate.


QUESTION ………. There are many difference opinions on coming election. How do we approach to current situation of Myanmar?


Daw Mya Than Than Nu…………..We have to work together. There are many people like me and some will also take place in election after their negotiation with government.
Anyhow, the best answer is working together. After the election, it won’t be a big deal whoever wins in election. The best answer is to take part in election.



QUESTION ……….Not only in you, we also heard the news about other late leader’s daughter
Will take race in election. What do you want to say about it?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu ……….. I don’t know their idea. They might have their own attitude.
If we need to work together, it will be good. We have known each other since our parent.Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Si Ba Swe are not strangers for me. But I still don’t know what their own attitude is.


QUESTION ………….Can you estimate how many parties will take part in election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu ………..It is difficult to say that. We can estimate the number of parties when election law comes out. We can say to enter election or not if only we see the election‘s rules. Now it is difficult to estimate it.


QUESTION ………….Where were you at the time of 1990 election? What do you think about it?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….I was in India. I voted for election through embassy.


QUESTION … Now there are third force groups which try to negotiate between Government and opposition groups in here. What do you think about their role in Myanmar political society?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….It will be great if they can do it. I don’t know exactly about NGO groups and cease fire groups who working on it. But it will be great if they can negotiate between government and oppositions. The biggest issue is conflicts between them. I welcome it if they can work together. I don’t know other people‘s idea. We should not have seen our own benefit. We should not have seen our party.
We should see about state and its people. The conflict is the biggest challenge for us.
We need negioation. Third forces group is good. Even we don’t have third force, we can cooperate each other. We are not the kids. We need to hand together.


QUESTION ………. Former military government seized the power at 1962 and imposed one party polices. But now current government is looking forward to democracy election. They also fixed time schedule. What do you want to say on it?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu……………….It will be good if they can do it properly.
They need to allow the political parties to work freely. It won’t be good if the parties could not work properly.


QUESTION ……….. There will be activities of political parties before 2010 election. Could you tell me how much they can work?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu………… I want to tell you about my experience in India. In India, the role of election committee is amazing. The commissioner is powerful as a cabinet minister .He can decide freely. We need to have this kind of election committee in Myanmar.
The results of India elections are amazing. The results are mostly honest. I wish our election could be like India.

QUESTION ….. You lived in India for many years. Do you find any weakness of India which
is a biggest Democracy country in the world?
Daw Mya Than Than Nu. Yes, they have some weakness. But they are very strong in justice. If you find out any unfair cases in election pools, you can file to high court. They have many advantages in poll system. They use the good quality ink for voting. Each party has two weeks for election campaign. But it is enough because Parties are already founded.



QUESTION …….What do you think about recent detainees?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu………….. As I mention it before, oppositions need to launch their campaign freely in a certain condition. Government always says unity .If they are looking forward the real unity, they should think about it. In India, even detainees can participate in election.



QUESTION…….. There will be the first voting for people who below the age of 37. But they don’t have proper awareness for election. So, what do you think about the role of media in this election?

Daw Mya Than Than Nu…………..Medias need to be balance and fairness. We Burmese people still don’t know the result of democracy. We should not have done the wrong thing which does not mean real democracy. We need to work in a certain condition. Authority needs to allow us to work in a certain condition. Medias need to work in certain boundary.
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