The Pa-O National Development Party (PNDP) held a ceremony to introduce its candidates who will contest the upcoming election and to formally present them to voters and the public on December 14 at the Pa-O National Hall in Naung Kalar Village, Thaton Township in Mon State ,ccording to reports.

The ceremony was attended by Pa-O Buddhist monks, responsible officials of the Pa-O National Development Party, local ethnic residents from Thaton, Bilin, and Paung townships, and invited guests.

During the event, Party Chair U Soe Pu delivered opening remarks, followed by the introduction of election candidates and their presentation to voters. The party’s General Secretary, Khun Thet Maung Maung, read out the Pa-O National Development Party’s 2025 election manifesto. Attendees then shared words of advice and encouragement. The ceremony concluded with closing remarks by Party Patron Phyar Khun Dali (also known as U Chit Thein), after which campaign pamphlets promoting electoral victory were distributed.

Khun Thet Maung Maung stated that the party is facing significant losses because elections cannot be held in many large villages across Mon State where Pa-O ethnic people reside in large numbers.

He explained that the Pa-O National Development Party is a Mon State–based political party and a small party primarily active in Thaton District. As a result, when major villages in the area are excluded from elections, the party effectively loses a substantial number of potential votes.

“Many Pa-O ethnic people live in Kyaikhto, Bilin, Thaton, and Paung townships in Mon State. Our party’s activities are based mainly in these four townships. Among them, in Bilin Township, Pa-O people mainly live in large villages such as Dauk Yat, Shwe Indone, and Tabet Hswe. However, these large villages are not included in the areas where elections will be held. As a result, we are losing a large number of votes that we would otherwise certainly receive,” Khun Thet Maung Maung said.

He added that in Thaton Township as well, elections cannot be held in large villages such as Don Wun and Moe Kaung, where many Pa-O ethnic people live, causing the party to lose many opportunities to secure voters’ support.

“In Thaton Township, there are 37 wards and villages where elections will be held. Among them, about 10 Pa-O villages still remain. However, because elections are not being held in major villages where Pa-O people live in large numbers, we are suffering significant losses,” he said.

Local residents also reported that near Don Wun Village in Thaton Township, along the Yangon–Mawlamyine railway line, rail tracks and railway bridges have frequently been damaged by landmine explosions. Similarly, along the Yangon–Mawlamyine highway in Moe Kaung Village, road bridges are often targeted and destroyed by landmines.

In addition, residents said that shootings and armed attacks frequently occur along the Yangon–Mawlamyine highway near Dauk Yat, Alule, and Shwe Indone villages in Bilin Township.