Danu National Democracy Party Chairperson U Khin Maung Cho presented party’s policy, stance and work programmes as follows:
Esteemed citizens of the Union of Myanmar
I wish you good health and happiness.
I am Danu National Democracy Party Chairperson U Khin Maung Cho. I will talk about Danu National Democracy Party.
Danu National Democracy Party is based on six townships — Ywangan, Pindaya, Kalaw, Nawnghkio, Lawksawk, and Taunggyi — where the majority of ethnic Danu people live. The headquarters of the party is located in Ywangan town in Ywangan Township in Danu Self-Administered Zone.
Danu National Democracy Party was formed on 3 July 2012, and the party registration number is at 57. The party was re-organized with new Executive Committee members on 12 September 2019.
Esteemed citizens of the Union of Myanmar and ethnic Danu people
The flag of Danu National Democracy Party consists of a red field, and there is a white circle in the middle of the red field. Fourteen same-sized golden-yellow stars encircle the white circle bearing a Danu traditional drum. The flag represents “Danu in the Union”.
Our party’s emblem consists of a red-coloured square, and on that background, there is a white circle bearing the Myanmar word ‘Danu’ and a Danu traditional drum. Our slogan is “Wake Up, Danu! Danu, Wake Up!”.
I would like to talk about the history of the Danu people. Since before the Union of Myanmar was collectively founded, since a very long time, Danu people live independently in accordance with their own traditions and cultures. British seized Rakhine and Taninthayi in 1824; Lower Myanmar in 1852; Upper Myanmar in 1885; and entire Shan State in 1890. In the colonial era, then the British government separately ruled the areas by creating Frontier Area Administration.
British introduced Shan State Act to rule all ethnic groups in Shan State. They established Western Sub-Division to oversee Shan State’s midland area where Danu people live. Hsamonghkam hereditary chieftain Sao Tun Aye ruled the Shan State’s midland area, Pway Hla hereditary chieftain (Saopha) Sao Tun Sein, Pindaya hereditary chieftain Sao Win Kyi, Ywangan hereditary Sao Khun Yi, Baw area’s hereditary chieftain Sao Khun Aung, Pin Mhi Kya Mong hereditary chieftain Sao Khun Oo, Kyone hereditary chieftain Sao Khun Saung until 1959 when they gave up hereditary rights. Although the names of Saophas start with ‘Sao’, they are ethnic Danu people.
The Danu hereditary chieftains, as mentioned above, helped General Aung San when he visited Shan State on 25 December 1946 for matters related to seeking independence for Myanmar. 12 February 1947, Hsamonghkam hereditary chief Sao Tun Aye signed the historic Panglong agreement as a representative of Shan hereditary chieftains. Similarly, U Khun Saw (Pindaya) signed the agreement as a representative of Shan people.
I am speaking about this history to emphasize peace processes discussed in the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong, the matters related to drafting constitutions for states, and the federal system.
Esteemed citizens of the Union of Myanmar and ethnic Danu people
I would like to talk about the objectives of Danu National Democracy Party. The party’s goals are as follows:
1. To cooperative with all stakeholders in creating a federal union that will ensure national equality, autonomy and democracy;
2. To establish mutual trust, respect, friendship and unity between various national, ethnic groups in the Union, and create situations in which different ethnic groups can co-exist peacefully;
3. To protect and preserve the languages, literature, culture and tradition of ethnic groups in Danu area;
4. To take collaborative efforts to achieve lasting peace, to combat dictatorship and chauvinism, to take measures to establish a federal democratic system;
5. To promote the standard of living of people in Danu area, to encourage high tech businesses, to help make the education system to be modern, to enhance the healthcare sector, to promote tourism.
Seven candidates of Danu National Democracy Party will stand for the general elections on 8 November 2020, in Pindaya and Ywangan townships; three candidates in Nawnghkio; two in Kalaw. So, a total of 12 candidates — one for Amyotha Hluttaw, three for Pyithu Hluttaw and eight for Shan State Hluttaw — of our party will contest the general elections. Among them, three are women, so it is 25 per cent of the total candidates of our party.
If candidates of our party are elected, we will carry out the following tasks.
1. We will work hard to achieve a federal union that can ensure national equality based on the great love of the Union, autonomy and democracy.
2. In the parliament, we will cooperate with any party that is working for democracy and the creation of a federal union.
3. We will cooperate with all relevant organizations in seeking nationwide peace by political means.
4. We will also protect the rights of other ethnic groups in the area.
5. In cooperation with the citizens, we will promote transparency in natural resources production and management and environmental conservation.
6. We will discuss with experts and relevant officials to remedy the effects of deforestation, landslides, creek and lake vanishing, and climate changes and work cooperatively in the protection of the natural environment.
7. We will cooperate with the officials concerned in anti-drug activities because it is one of the biggest problems in Myanmar.
Esteemed voters and people
Candidates of ethnic political parties need to be elected for the parliament to participate in the Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong.
Danu National Democracy Party is a member of the UNA (United Nationalities Alliance), which comprises 13 ethnic parties. Its member parties from Shan State are Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, Shan State Kokang Democratic Party, and Danu National Democracy Party.
As a member party of UNA, we, alongside other UNA members, will adhere to the principle of the UNA.
Esteemed voters and people
We would like to call on all of you to vote for the candidates of our party, Danu National Democracy Party, in our constituencies in the general elections on 8 November 2020.
In conclusion, we, alongside with other national, ethnic groups, can participate in building a federal union, which national, ethnic groups are keen to achieve. Please stamp next to Danu traditional drum, which is the emblem of our Danu National Democracy Party, in the geeral elections on 8 November 2020.
Thanks to all.
Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar