CNP Denies Receiving Fund from NGO

24 October 2010: The Chin National Party (CNP) rubbished rumours that it received funding from external sources or other associations, saying the party has been functioning with contributions from its members and local supporters.

Salai Ceu Bik Thawng, General Secretary of CNP, told Chinland Guardian that his party did not receive any financial support from Myanmar Egress or its Vice-Chairman and a well-known controversial businessman Hla Maung Shwe (HMS) as reported by Rangoon-based Myanmar Post.

In its September 29 edition, the Myanmar Post reported that Hla Maung Shwe provided financial assistance to the National Democratic Force (NDF), and other ethnic political parties including Shan, Karen, Chin and Arakan.

The Myanmar Post was quoted by the exiled media agency The Irrawaddy as saying that the funding came directly from Hla Maung Shwe’s own money and was not from Myanmar Egress.

According to Article 407 (c) of 2008 Constitution, any political party that directly or indirectly receives financial, material and other assistance from a foreign government, a religious association, other association or a person from a foreign country shall have no right of continued existence.

“We are not happy about the rumours. CNP is established and run with contributions from its party’s CEC (Central Executive Comittee) and members as well as local supporters. We do not get any funding from NGOs and other companies or associations,” continued Salai Ceu Bik Thawng.

If this rumour, Salai Ceu Bik Thawng added, continues then we may need to reconsider our membership at Parties of Democratic Friends, a six-party alliance consisting of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), the Rakhine (Arakan) Nationalities Development Party (RNDP), the Union Democratic Party (UDP), the Chin National Party (CNP), the National Democratic Force (NDF) and The Democracy and Peace Party (DPP).

The Myanmar Egress, a ‘controversial’ non-profit organisation founded in 2006 by Myanmar scholars, nationalists and social workers, is committed to state-building through positive change in a progressive yet constructive collaboration and working relationship with the government and all interest groups, both local and foreign.

The Chin National Party plans to contest for a total of 23 seats across Chin State.

Van Biak Thang
[email protected]