Ethnic Palaung party confirms it will contest nationwide

TNP's opening ceremony in Muse on 25 July 2010, photo: SHAN

Contrary to information leaked by sources close to the party last week, Taang (Palaung) National Party (TNP) has made a statement confirming that it will contest across the country, not just six townships in Shan State North as previously thought, according to Mai Ohn Khaing, General Secretary of the party.

The TNP plans to contest in all townships in Shan State North, Kalaw, Aungban in Shan State South and parts of Kachin State such as Phakant (Gemland) as well as Mongkut (Mogok), Mandalay and Rangoon, all of which have large Palaung populations. In addition, the TNP will field its candidates in all legislative levels: upper house, lower house and state/region legislature, said Mai Ohn Khaing.

“The party’s aim is to create a platform for the Palaung people to access and participate in political affairs like other ethnic groups”, he said.
The party which was granted registration on 24 May now has over 3,000 members, 2,000 more members than it needs to satisfy the minimum quota prescribed by the Political Parties Registration Law. Any party running for parliamentary seats across the whole union must enlist at least 1,000 members to the commission within 90 days from the day it is granted permission for registration as a political party. The TNP plans to submit its members list this coming August to the Election Commission.

The main challenges facing the party now are finding ways to transport the campaignes across regions and lack of funds. The party is reliant on donations collected from its members and plans to canvass them to pledge more money as the campaign steps up a gear. Funds from private benefactors will also be sought in the lead up to the election, according to Mai Ohn Khaing.

The party so far has finished opening its branch offices in Kyaukme, Namkham, Kutkhai, Mantong, Namhsan and Muse townships in Shan State North. The party headquarters is located on Bogyoke Aung San Road, Mingala quarter of Namhsan township. Its leading committee members are: Mai Ai Mone (former leader of the Palaung State Liberation Army (PSLA) which was forced to surrender in 2005), U Htun Kyaw (Namhsan), U Nyunt Maung (Namhsan), Mai Ohn Khaing, U Maung Kyaw and U Aung Htun.

On 25 July, the TNP opened its branch office in Muse, with an event attended by over 150 people from Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP), Union Solidarity and Development Party (UNDP), Shan Literature and Culture Association, Taang Literature and Culture Association, Military Affairs Security (MAS), Special Branch (SB) and local residents, said a local source in Muse.

The office is located on Shwe Thamin (Golden Deer) Road in Zawn Zaw quarter of Muse. Its branch office Chairman is Mai Maung Htay and Mai Maung Kyan is its secretary.

At present, the TNP and Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP) are said to be popular among people in Shan State North’s Muse and Namkham townships, the towns located opposite China’s Yunnan province. Both townships are homelands for ethnic nationalities such as Shan, Palaung and Kachin.

“Currently the two are running neck and neck”, said a local resident in Namkham.

There are 23 townships in Shan State North: 4 Wa, 2 Kokang and 2 Palaung (Mantong and Namhsan townships) have been designated as self-administered areas, by the junta-drawn 2008 constitution. The SNDP has promised not to field its candidates there.

Source:http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3116:ethnic-palaung-party-confirms-it-will-contest-nationwide-&catid=85:politics&Itemid=266