Election campaign banned in ceasefire areas

Written by Hseng Khio FahFriday, 30 July 2010 17:53

Burma’s ethnic ceasefire groups, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National DemocraticAlliance Army (NDAA), that have refused to transform themselves into junta run border guardforce (BGF) say no political party contesting in the upcoming general elections will be allowed tocome and canvass votes in areas under their control, according to local sources from theSino-Burma border. A senior Wa officer from Panghsang said the ban includes ethnic Wa parties referring to the WaDemocratic Party (WDP) and Wa National Unity Party (WNUP).“We cannot play favorites with any party,” he said. “If we allow one, then we have to allow otherparties including USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party).”The WDP is led by Khun Tun Lu, 60, who was a former member of the defunct Burma SocialistProgram Party (BSPP) turned National Unity Party (NUP) turned Union Solidarity andDevelopment Association (USDA) and the one that won the only NUP seat in Shan State atHopang township in 1990. Other WDP members include Hsai Pao Nap and Jingda, both formerBSPP members.The WDP will contest in 4 townships, Hopang, Tangyan, Markmang (Metman) and Kunlong,none of which are under Wa control.Another one, the WNUP was formerly the Wa National Development Party (WNDP), one of theten parties that were recognized by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) afterthe1990 elections.The party said it will not contest in Wa Self Administered Region as most areas are still not“stable”, therefore will only focus in Lashio, Kengtung, Tangyan and Hopang townships, wherethere are significant numbers of Wa people.The party expects to win seats in the Shan State Hluttaw (Legislature), rather than thePyidaungsu Hluttaw, or Union parliament.The Wa is one of the major groups of Shan State and was granted a Self-Administered Regionby the junta-sponsored National Convention comprising six townships: Hopang, Mongmai,Pangwai, Nahparn, Panghsang and Markmang. The Wa also controls Mongpawk and someareas along the Thai-Burma border.A border analyst Aung Kyaw Zaw commented the elections are unlikely to be held in the Waand NDAA areas.“If the Wa don’t allow political party to come, elections will be held without participation from thepeople there. And the results will not represent them,” he said.