Kaman National Progressive Party – KNPP

Monday, 12 July 2010 20:24 Khaing Suu

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Kaman National Progressive Party, formed in March, consists of members of the Kaman ethnic group of the Muslim minority from Arakan State primarily living in Rangoon.

The junta’s Union Election Commission on July 5 allowed the party to formally compete in this year’s elections, issuing it with the registration number, 36.

The party’s central executive committee is comprised of retired government officers and private businessmen. Its central executive committee has a total of 16 members. In the 1990 election, the Kaman National League for Democracy (KNLD) contested in the election and won one seat in the People’s Parliament.

“We formed the party for the Kaman ethnic group to participate in building democracy in the interests of our country as other ethnics groups have done,” chairman and retired judge Zaw Win said. “We aim to improve the situation of human rights for all ethnic minorities and we will work for all citizens to get equal rights in accordance with the constitution.”

Zaw Win was born on June 28, 1954 in Nyaunglaypin Township, Pegu Division. His father, Hla Kyaw, a native of Sittwe in Arakan State, is also a retired judge, his mother, Khin Kyi, is a native of Thandwe. Passing his exit exams from Hinthada High School No. 1 in 1968, Zaw Win went on to obtain his law degree at Rangoon University in the early 1970s.

He worked as a judicial official at various departments in Rangoon, Kyankhin, Khayam, Insein, Kyaukphyu, Dike Oo, Thanlyin, and Loikaw. He then served as a civil division judge in Tenasserim Division. In June last year, he retired as a joint director of the Supreme Court and entered politics early this year. His wife Myint Myint Win, a Burmese Muslim, is also a law graduate and retired as a joint director of an attorneys’ office in 2008.

A total of six parties in Arakan State applied to register with the electoral commission and five: the Mro or Khami National Solidarity Organisation, the Rakhine State National Force, Rakhine National Development Party, Mro National Party, and the KNPP; were granted permission to formally contest in the upcoming elections. At present, the KNPP is the only party representing the Kaman minority.

Zaw Win said the KNPP was willing to work with any political party that had the same objectives and political philosophy. It aimed also to achieve rights for all ethnic groups to conduct business freely, he said.

“We will co-operate with all citizens and other political parties to build a democratic country. We will fight against terrorism and any extreme beliefs. We will try to uphold people’s philosophies and ideas in the community,” Zaw Win said.

The party will contest mainly in the Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Thandwe districts in Arakan State, where the highest proportion of Kaman people live.

“There may be around 300,000 Kaman in the country, but that’s not an exact figure. Among those, around 500 Kaman families live in Rangoon”, Zaw Win said.

Since it only received approval a few days ago, the party had not started campaigning nor had it yet satisfied the legal requirement for party members, Zaw Win said.

“We will accept all; Kaman, other ethnic groups, Chinese, Indian or whoever wants to be a party member, except persons who are unqualified in accordance with the laws. We’ll accept all citizens”, Zaw Win said.

If the party wins seats, it will also address issues faced by Muslims.

“In Arakan State, Muslims are not allowed to travel freely … So, if we win some seats, we’ll address these and other problems. Though we should limit the rights of people who are not Burmese citizens, all Burmese citizens should get their deserved rights”, he said.

Members of the party’s central executive committee
1. Zaw Win (chairman)
2. Hla Toe (vice-chairman No. 2)
3. Tun Ngwei (vice-chairman No. 3)
4. Tin Hlaing Win (secretary)
5. Kyaw Nyein (joint secretary No. 1)
6. Thein Shwe (joint secretary No. 2)
7. San Shwe (joint spokesman)
8. Nwe New Aye (treasurer No. 1)
9. Su Su Khine (treasurer No. 2)
10. Myint Thein (auditor)
11. Kyaw Soe Moe (member)
12. Aung Myo Thein (member)
13. Kyi Tun (member)
14. Maung Tun (member)
15. Hla Shwe (member)
16. Thet Tun (member)