Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) –The Kachin National Organization (KNO) in exile on its 10th anniversary vowed to boycott the military junta's 2010 general elections.

Colonel Lamang Brang Seng, in-charge of the military wing of the KNO on Friday said his group along with other Burmese pro-democracy outfits and other ethnic nationalities plan to reject the 2010 election.

"Not only politically but also militarily we along with other pro-democracy forces and ethnic nationalities, are going to fight against the regime's plan to hold elections in 2010," Brang Seng told Mizzima News.

The KNO does not believe that the junta's election will be free and fair and will usher in federal democracy but only legitimize military rule, he said.

"We don't think the election will be free and fair," said Brang Seng adding that the elections and the junta's roadmap are designed to further entrench military rule in Burma.

KNO, an exiled Kachin ethnic group with an armed wing, was established in 1999 and has an alliance with other exiled opposition groups.

KNO is also a member of an exiled based Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) which comprises of various ethnic political and armed groups from Burma.