Wednesday, January 18, 2012

88-student, hip-hop singer file to run

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Wednesday, 18 January 2012 22:45 Myo Thant

Chaing Mai (Mizzima) – 88-generation student Sandar Min and hip-hop singer Zay Yar Thaw will run for the Burmese Parliament under the National League for Democracy banner.

Sandar Min will stand for the Zabu Thiri Township constituency in which current President Thein Sein won in the 2010 general election, and Zay Yar Thaw will stand for Pobba Thiri Township constituency, which current Vice President Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo won in the 2010 general election.

Sandar Min, aka Shwee, 40, participated in the 2007 “Saffron Revolution” and was sentenced to 65 years in prison for allegedly contacting illegal groups and threatening the security of the state. She was released from Myaungmya Prison under the presidential amnesty on January 13.

Hip Hop singer Zay Yar Thaw, aka Phyo Zay Yar Thaw, is the founder of Generation Wave. In 2008, he was sentenced to four years in prison for forming an illegal association and possessing foreign currency. He was released from prison under amnesty on May 17, 2011.

Zay Yar Thaw, 31, told Mizzima he still needed to learn many things about politics.

“Even in the Independence struggle, the leaders learned about politics through experience. To become a politician, I need to try hard and I have many things to learn,” Zay Yar Thaw said.

The NLD will contest all 48 open seats in the coming April 1 by-election. It declared 44 candidates on January 12 and 17.

On Wednesday, it selected four more candidates for the remaining four seats. Thirteen of the NLD electoral candidates are women.

Along with Sandar Min and Zay Yar Thaw, NLD members Nai Ngan Lin will contest in the Dekkhina Thiri Township constituency, which current Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Myint Hlaing won in the 2010 general election. Min Thu will contest in the Ottara Thiri Township constituency.

Nai Ngan Lin, 28, was arrested while he was surfing the Internet at a cyber café in Kyaunkmyaung in Rangoon in June 2009. He was interrogated at Aungthabyay Interrogation Center for more than two months and then released.  

Min Thu, 50, from Mogok, Mandalay Region, received a bachelor degree in chemistry from Mandalay University in 1981. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison for allegedly insulting the government, disturbing officials during their duties and involvement in an unlawful assembly. He was released under the presidential amnesty on January 13.

NLD chairman Aung San Suu Kyi will contest in the Kawhmu Township constituency, Rangoon Region, in the by-election. She registered to run on Wednesday in Thanlyin Township.         

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