Ethnic party supporter ‘poached’ by PM’s party

Written by Hseng Khio Fah/ Emily Hobbs

Friday, 16 July 2010 15:22

A respected townsman who had already agreed to join of the Shan National Democratic Party
(SNDP) in Shan State South’s Monghsu township is reported to have been picked up by the
Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by Prime Minister Thein Sein of the State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC), say local sources.

Khun Leng, a respected figure in the local area in the gemland of Monghsu, 189 miles northeast
of Shan State capital Taunggyi, had reportedly made an informal agreement with the SNDP to
be their representative in the area. The SNDP members in Shan State South were on their way
to meet with him last weekend to formalize the agreement and open a branch office in Monghsu
when they were delayed by broken down transportation.

“The SNDP members were coming to the area in order to form a branch committee and recruit
more members, but their cars were broken down on the way and were late 3 or 4 days to get to
the areas,” a local resident reported.

While the SNDP delegation’s arrival was being delayed, Khun Leng was reportedly summoned
by Maj Gen Ya Pyae, Commander of the Eastern Region Command and Chairman of Shan
State South Peace and Development Council, and “advised” to join the junta-backed Union
Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

“Ya Pyae left Khun Leng little option but to accept his offer, leaving the SNDP having to look for
a replacement and still yet to form a committee there,” said the source.

Currently in the Shan State East and South the USDP is the only party to be represented,
according to local people.  Other parties’ presence will depend on them being able to find a
candidate that is considered well-respected enough locally to be suitable. The SNDP said it is
trying its best to get to the area as soon as possible to start putting candidates forward for
consideration.

However, the SNDP remains in a strong position and at present it is reported to be enjoying
immense support from the local people in Shan State North.  The party has now exceeded its
1,000 member quota, enough to submit to the Elections Commission to contest in the upcoming
general elections. In addition, some members from the USDP are said to have defected to join
the SNDP, in some cases.

There are so far 14 political parties that will contest in the whole Shan State, North, East and
South: Kayan National Party (KNP), Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP), Taang (Palaung)
National Party (PNP), Wa National Unity Party (WNUP), Wa Democratic Party (WDP), Northern
Shan State Progressive Party (NSSPP), Kokang Democracy and Unity Party (KDUP), Pa-O
National Organization (PNO), Inn National Development Party (INDP), Lahu National

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Ethnic party supporter ‘poached’ by PM’s party

Written by Hseng Khio Fah/ Emily Hobbs

Friday, 16 July 2010 15:22

Development Party (LNDP), Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and National
Unity Party (NUP), National Democratic Froce (NDF), Union Democracy Party (UDP) and Union
of Myanmar Federation of National Politics (UMFNP).

The SNDP will contest in 40 townships within Shan State as well as areas outside of it such as
Kachin, Karenni state and Mandalay, Sagaing and Ragoon Divisions, all of which have large
Shan populations.

The WDP will contest in 4 townships, Hopang, Tangyan, Markmang (Metman) and Kunlong,
none of which are under Wa control.

The other Wa party, the WNUP will contest in Lashio, Kengtung, Tangyan and Hopang
townships, where there are significant numbers of Wa people.

The LNDP will contest in 6 townships across the Shan State: Shan State North’s Tangyan
Township and Shan State East’s Mongton, Mongpiang, Monghsat, Mongphyak and Tachilek
townships.

As for the NDF, a splinter party from the NLD, it might have a chance in Kengtung, according to
a former NLD member, but not in Lashio and Taunggyi. Kengtung, Lashio and Taunggyi are the
largest cities in Shan State.

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