Formed: June 2010 Affiliation: USDA Headquarters: No.314/315, Union Highway, Myothit Ward, Myitkyina Township, Kachin State
Latest News
Background
Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State, a new Kachin party with established links to the military regime and business enterprises in Kachin State is preparing to contest this year’s upcoming elections. The UDPKS was formed by former pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association members and according to locals the party was formed after the urging of Ministry of Industry No. 1. Aung Thaung and Communication Minister Thein Zaw. Vice-chairman (1) Khin Maung Hla is the older brother of Communications Minister Thein Zaw. Party Chairman Khet Htein Nan resigned from the USDA to assume the post of Chairman in the new party. The 19-person party Central Executive Committee (CEC) consists of elders in Myitkyina, retired government officials and businessmen of Kachin, Shan and Burmese ethnic nationalities.
Chairman Khet Htein Nan denying allegations of receiving financial support from the military regime, and says he formed the party as a necessity for the Kachin people in Kachin State after he learned an election application submitted by the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) had not been accepted. The party will campaign on a platform of building peace, democratic rights and development in Kahcin State, including fulfilling the rights of the population in matters of education, health, language, culture and agriculture in addition to pursuing the eradication of narcotics. It intends to contest all 18 townships in Kachin State.
In the era of the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), Khet Htein Nan served in the BSPP Youth Wing in Ingyan Yan city, Kachin State. He is currently a Central Committee member of the Myitkyina-based Kachin Traditional Cultural Committee and owner of Aung Shwe Kabar Company, which is concerned with gold and jade mining. Party Vice-Chairman (1) Khin Maung Lat is a retired senior assistant teacher and elder brother of Communication Minister Thein Zaw. CEC member Daw Sha Dawn Khaun Taun is the wife of famous jade mining company owner Ywap Zau Khau, while Pau Lu is a representative of Kachin religious leader Sabwe Jun, who served as the intermediary in peace talks between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and junta and maintains links with ceasefire groups who have agreed to the Burmese military’s Border Guard Force proposal.
Party Central Executive Committee
Chairman
Khet Htein Nan (Kachin)
Vice-Chairman 1
Khin Maung Latt (Burmese)
Vice-chairman 2
Sai Aye Kyaw (Shan)
Secretary
Phau Lar Gam Phan (Kachin)
Member
Sha Daung Khaun Taung
Member
Lawyer Labya Gam (Kachin)
Member
Pau Lu (Kachin)
Member
Phone Ran Ku (Rawan)
Member
Yein Saun (Lashi)
Member
Inn Lan Zau Khau (Kachin)
Member
Mar Khau (Lisu)
Member
Lawyer Dwe Bu (Kachin)
Member
Win Myint (Burmese)
Member
Kyaw Nyin (Burmese)
Member
Ah Lay Par (Lisu)
Member
Teacher Daw Jar Nan (Kachin)
Member
Kan Sii Tuu Aung (Kachin)
Statements
“We will join hands with all like-minded parties which maintain a similar policy with us. We will not compete with these parties like in parliamentary democracy ages of the past. We will not spread gossip about other parties. We will not fight with them. We shall cooperate with all these parties”
Activities
Date
Activity
Details
2010.10.11
Campaign
Joint Secretary of Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS) Daw Dwe Bu presented the party’s policy, stance and work programmes on radio and TV
2010.09.20
Registration
Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS) and Khami National Development Party submitted lists of their members to the UEC
2010.08.02
Registration
The Union Election Commission granted permission to Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS) with its headquarters at No. 314/315 on Union Highway in Myothit Ward in Myitkyina Township of Kachin State, to register as a political party as of 2 August 2010. The registration number of Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS) is (40).
2010.07.23
Registration
The Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS) submitted its application to register as a political party to the commission
2010.07.17
Registration
Burma’s Election Commission has approved the registration of the Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS), which is allegedly backed by the junta.
2010.07.02
Registration
Members of the Kachin ethnic minority who belonged to the junta’s USDA applied to the Burma’s electoral watchdog in Naypyidaw to form a new political party called the Unity and Democracy Party for Kachin State (UDPKS).
2010.04.30
Registration
The United Democracy Party (Kachin State) submitted its application to register as a political party
