Mizzima News

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The ethnic Kachin people are trying to form a political party to contest the 2010 general elections in Kachin State. 

The political party will be called 'Kachin State Progressive Party' (KSPP) and its members will be civilians. The party has not yet become a legal party, 'New Democratic Army-Kachin' (NDA-K) Chairman Zakhon Ten Yeng said.

"It is still in the planning stage. We have given a name to the party. The government promised to hold a multi-party election. We can't say yet when this new party will become an officially recognized legal party. It will become a legal party only after the people endorse it. The name 'KSPP' is just our proposal which means 'Party for Kachin State Development'. It has not yet reached the stage of being endorsed by the people and supported by the people," he said.

"We should have a single and unified political party in Kachin State for all those who wish and initiate to form a political party in our State for the benefit of all the people living in this State regardless of their race and creed. We should have one and only political party with great unity and solidarity. We shall give our support to such a party", he added.

The main aim of this party is to benefit all ethnic nationalities living in Kachin State, so that they can enjoy freedom in politics and development in Kachin State through a united effort, he said.

It is reported that the leaders of this KSPP party are Dr. Tuja, Vice-Chairman of Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Maj. Manchi Thein Saung, Deputy In-charge of NDA-K Liaison Department and Maj. Phone Ram from the KIA splinter group led by Lashan Awng Wah.

All these persons must resign from their party posts if this party is officially formed, he added.

"We must have freedom to organize if the party is permitted to be formed. We should exercise noble practices for the sake of our country and our region through free discussion," NDA-K Chairman Zakhon Ten Yeng said.

The transition committee called ' Jingphaw Mungdaw Pranwan Komiti' was formed in the middle of last year to contest in 2010 election with the ceasefire groups in Kachin State namely KIA, KIA splinter group Lashan Awng Wah, NDA-K and Kachin National Consultant Committee.

The members of all these ceasefire groups must resign from their party posts if they join this new Kachin political party as civilians, a Major from NDA-K said on condition of anonymity.

"They will join the political party as civilians and they don't need to wear police uniform. All of them will become civilians and they are reportedly trying to avoid splitting into two to three political parties in the State," he added.

"I think there will be a total of 15 persons with five persons from each group. I don't know who will join them. They are coming to all townships and launching organizational tours," he further said.

KIA is an ethnic Kachin armed group formed in February 1961 which reached a ceasefire agreement with the military regime in February 1994.