In a country that has a total of 29 ministers for ethnic affairs (every state and region except Chin state has at least one), Hmwe Hmwe Khin is unique: of the five women currently occupying the position, she is the only one who is not a member of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD). Instead, she represents the Tai-Leng Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), a party dedicated to advancing the interests of the Shan-ni, or Red Shan, people of northern Myanmar.

Hmwe Hmwe Khin’s position as Sagaing region’s minister for ethnic Shan affairs is unusual in itself. Unlike all other cabinet posts in Myanmar, ethnic affairs ministers are elected directly by their constituents, and not appointed by the ruling party. And while it isn’t a high-powered job, it does offer the right person an opportunity to work for the benefit of often neglected minorities. It was this, Hmwe Hmwe Khine says, that first inspired her to seek the position in 2015.

And it is for the same reason that she hopes to win again this year—to continue her efforts on behalf of the Shan-ni people.

“I want to upgrade all I’ve done in the first five-year period. I want to exert myself to improve their situation,” she says of her second run for office in next month’s election.

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From nurse to politician

Hmwe Hmwe Khin was born in Kettha, a village in Sagaing’s Homalin township. As an ethnic Shan woman from a remote corner of the country, she knows what it is like to live in a community where access to healthcare and education is limited, at best. Despite these challenges, however, she went on to become a nurse, serving in her native Sagaing and neighboring Mandalay region. 

In 2008, she retired from her work as a nurse to join a pharmaceutical company. She says she first considered getting involved in politics two years later, when Myanmar had its first election in two decades and the political climate began to change. Now 58 and settled in Mandalay with her family, she says that ethnic regions still lag far behind, but she hopes to change that by bringing greater opportunities for social and cultural advancement.

Even though her residence is in Mandalay, Hmwe Hmwe Khin has spent most of her time since becoming Sagaing’s Shan ethnic affairs minister in Monywa, the region’s largest city. She says she once considered a career as a civil servant, but later opted to join the TNDP in order to better serve her people.

“If I had decided to become a public servant, the best I could have hoped for would have been promotion to director, and then I could only have worked for the benefit of my department. It occurred to me that if I wanted to address all of the issues facing my people, I would have to get involved in politics. And so I entered the political arena,” she said.

The TNDP was founded in May 2012 by its current president, Sai Htay Aung, and other Shan-ni leaders. Three years later, some members broke away from the party over ideological differences, but the TNDP, which is headquartered in Mandalay, still managed to field 58 candidates in Sagaing and Kachin state, where most Shan-ni live, in the 2015 election.

As one of only two of candidates from the party to win in that election, Hmwe Hmwe Khin felt vindicated by her victory. She saw it as an important step forward for an ethnic group that has long been left out of Myanmar’s political process.

Speaking the language

As minister for Shan ethnic affairs, Hmwe Hmwe Khin has been hampered by her lack of an independent budget. However, with her limited resources, she has sought to address high-priority issues affecting Shan-ni people, she said.

One of these is the drug crisis that afflicts many remote communities. To the extent that she could, she has established drug rehabilitation centers in villages where the problem is most rife.

Another project has been the promotion of the Shan language. During her first term as minister, she has held not only traditional ceremonies, but also literature conferences aimed at preserving Shan in its written form.

“If the literature disappears, so will the spoken language,” she said, noting that in many villages, most Shan children can’t speak their own language.

“Teaching literature can make them speak,” she said.

But not everyone has been impressed by her efforts.

Dr. Sai Khine Kyaw, a member of a research team for Shan-ni literature, said that as a regional minister, Hmwe Hmwe Khin has done no more than should be expected of her.

“I see nothing special. She did what should be done as a matter of course,” he said.

Hmwe Hmwe Khin acknowledged that her work wasn’t finished yet. If she wins a second term, she said, she will push for legislation that would give the ministry a budget for the development of literature, culture and human resources.

“This will cover matters such as literature, culture, resource exploitation and our rights,” she said. 

Election hopes

While Hmwe Hmwe Khin is hopeful she will be able to fulfill these plans, her main rival in next month’s election said he believes she will have a harder time winning than she did in 2015.

Noting that ethnic parties are narrowly focused on their own ethnic groups, NLD candidate Kyaw Htay Lwin said he thought Shan-ni constituents would be better served by a party with a national vision. 

“Daw Hmwe Hmwe Khin did as much as she could. If I am elected, my responsibility will be to do more than her. Another duty is to gain the credibility of ethnic people,” he said.

A total of eight candidates—four men and four women—will contest in the election for a chance to serve as Sagaing’s Shan ethnic affairs minister.

Although competition will be stiffer this time around, Hmwe Hmwe Khin said she felt good about her chances of winning.

She said she was satisfied with the level of support she had received during her campaign trips and was especially gratified by the sight of so many women cheering her on.

With their support, she said, she was sure to win the election and have a chance to serve the country for another five years.