CNI News
3 December 2025
Because the public is still not alert or engaged regarding the upcoming multi-party democratic general election, the Mon Unity Party (MUP) is facing difficulties in conducting its election campaign, according to the party’s spokesperson, Naing Than Shwe, who spoke to CNI News.
He said:“It’s election campaign season now. We are also going out to campaign. But we can’t gather large crowds of people. The public is not very aware or energized yet. So our party members go around in small groups of one or two, gather around 30 people at a time, explain the voting system, and show them how to cast their votes.We also explain what rights they will lose if they do not vote.There are difficulties.In Mon State, especially, many people work in rubber plantations.Because of that, they wake up very early—around midnight—then go to work.During the hot season, rubber tapping starts even earlier, so they don’t have time to attend our events.”
Currently in Mon State, the parties preparing to contest the election include the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), People’s Pioneer Party (PPP), People’s Party (PP), Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), the National Unity Party (TaSaNya), the Myanmar Farmers Development Party, the Mon Unity Party (MUP), and the Pa-O National Development Party.
Members of the Mon armed group, New Mon State Party (NMSP)
Under the present political situation in Myanmar, where armed conflicts are widespread and escalating, ethnic political parties are reportedly facing more difficulties than major mainland parties during the campaign period.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stated during his visit to Maubin, Ayeyarwady Region, on November 23 that whether people choose to vote or not is entirely their own decision.
Naing Than Shwe of the Mon Unity Party also told CNI:“Especially for small parties, it is a struggle.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and members of the NMSP
It’s not that they are weak, but for this election, what we want to tell the voters is simply: please go and vote.Choose whoever you like.You can vote for whomever you prefer.This is the right of the voters.We just want to urge them not to lose this right.”
It is also learned that the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Mon armed group, is not exerting pressure on political parties contesting the upcoming election nor on Mon voters.
The election will be held in three phases—on December 28, 2025; January 11, 2026; and in the final week of January 2026. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has stated that the government formed as a result of the election will receive a transfer of state power.
