Candidate to use payout for land-policy revamp

Friday, 24 September 2010 04:48 Myo Thein

Rangoon (Mizzima) – Retired middle-school teacher Tin Aye is preparing to contest November’s general election with the 4.6 million kyat (US$4,600) he received as compensation for the seizure of his farmland when Naypyidaw was built.

Standing for election as an independent candidate for the Pyithu Hluttaw (lower house), Lewei constituency, Tin Aye, 67, likens the financing of his campaign with funds awarded as compensation for seized land as “frying a fish in its own fat”.

Mizzima’s Myo Thein spoke to the Rangoon University graduate and retired teacher of 38 years’ service about his political outlook for himself and the country.

When did you decide to stand?
I decided a long time before to stand for election. I was detained in 1990 and could not stand for election that year. This year I’m a free man.

Can you speak about the network of independent candidates across Burma?
I contacted a weekly journal when I heard about U Yan Kyaw participating [in the elections]. Then I had a talk with him and formed this alliance group. We made this network with people who don’t want to join any formal party. I like the formation of this group, without the posts of leader and chairman. There are 14 in our group.

What is your position on land seizure?
This issue arises because there is no ‘land for tillers’ policy in our country. We can’t own our land. We can work only on this land. Even under the communist system there is a ‘land for tillers’ policy. This land policy changed in the age of the socialist government rule [in Burma]. In the 2008 constitution, they just mention that this issue is to be further deliberated upon. So, I shall certainly raise this issue on behalf of farmers when I’m elected to the parliament.

Many people criticise the education system in our country. How do you see the issue as a retired schoolteacher?
Former education minister Than Aung, during his tenure, introduced the ‘everybody-passes’ system without examinations. There was no first semester exam, second semester exam or final exam under his rule. Then, at the matriculation exam, which can decide the destiny of a student, students try by all means to pass the exam and gain admission to a good university. If a student passed this exam by cheating, he’d become a cheat and swindler later in life.

Today, people have to buy their education. So, the education system in our country has become totally wrong. All parents want to see their children become a doctor or an engineer. But an engineer becomes a thief. He steals iron rods, cement, sand and pebble from his worksite. Meanwhile, doctors also become robbers, looting money from patients. Why are they doing these things? They are just trying to recover the investment they made in their studies. The system of buying an education is totally wrong.

You will be up against candidates from the USDP and NUP. What is your strategy?
Those who destroyed and demolished the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) were its own party members. I don’t think people will vote for the National Unity Party (NUP) [The NUP is seen as a product of the BSPP]. Similarly, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will succumb to its own executive committee members who will demolish the party. Old party members resent the upstarts, who have benefited more financially. There is growing dissension and resentment.

Do you mean the USDP will demolish itself only in Lewei, or throughout the country?
The whole country, not only in Lewei. This is the general situation for the entire country.

As you stand as an independent have you received harassment from the authorities?
No, there has been no harassment from them [authorities] because I am a retired teacher. I was their teacher. For instance, there will be 120 polling booths in Lewei constituency alone. Many people asked me if I would appoint a polling agent. But I will not hire an agent as all of the local election commission members and Ward Peace and Development Council members are my former students. So they don’t give me any trouble.

What will be your first task if you are elected?
There are three issues. The first one concerns badly torn notes. Then, I will raise the question of badly paid pensioners. I myself am drawing only 3,202.58 kyat as a monthly pension. The third and final matter will be the situation of farmers. If these are successfully dealt with, I shall raise other issues later.

Do you think these issues stand a chance of success?
Yes, there is a big chance of success because many military commanders from the 120 polling booths will be the sons of farmers and teachers. They themselves have the same feelings on these issues. They see their fathers, mothers and teachers surviving on meager pensions. Even if they dare not raise these issues they will give their support to the one who dares to raise them. I do believe it.

What is your feeling about those who support a boycott of the election?
Some argue we must amend the 2008 constitution. My belief is not to say anything on amending the constitution while I am just an ordinary citizen. I was excluded from the electoral process in 1990 as I was under detention. Now I’m a free man able to contest the polls. Some people say they will not contest this election based on their own views. They also say that even if we’re elected we’ll only become ‘YES’ parliamentarians. I think this mentality is like ‘entering war with empty quivers [arrow holders]’.