Secretary of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) Sai Maung Tin announced his resignation less than a week after the party released a statement saying it will not dissolve the party.

Sai Maung Tin, who was a co-founder of the party and also served as managing director of the Top White Tiger Company Limited – established under the party’s name, said that as his role for central executive committee and a member of parliament ended on January 31, he had decided to quit.

“I was a co-founder of the party. I have been with SNDP for about six years,” he said. “During my time in the party, I was a representative for the People’s Assembly seat in Laikha Township which I served as an MP in parliament for five years.”

“I think that I have done all my responsibilities,” he added.

Sai Maung Tin said he submitted the letter of resignation to the SNDP headquarters in Taunggyi and also informed all branch offices on Tuesday.

Sai Ai Pao, the chairman the SNDP and the former of the Shan State Minister of Mining and Forestry, has yet to respond, according to him.

The White Tiger party won a combined 57 seats in Burma’s 2010 elections and the bi-elections of 2012. In the general elections on November 8, it won only one State Assembly seat in parliament.

“No one puts pressure on me to resign,” Sai Maung Tin said. “As an executive committee, I feel ashamed that we were not able to achieve what we had promised to the people.”

Sai Maung Tin said currently he has not decided to join any party yet. However, he would continue to work for the Shan people.

He urged that all Shan leaders work together for the prosperity of Shan State and its people.

Sai Maung Ting, age 56, was born in northern Shan State’s Nam Kham Township. He was with the SNDP from April 2010 to January 2016.

BY SAI AW / Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)