USDA headquarters, Naypyidaw (PHOTO: IRRAWADDY) Signs have emerged that the Burmese military junta's loyal civic partner, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), has taken on the responsibility of securing pro-regime voting blocs in ethnic minority areas ahead of the election.
According to several sources in ethnic states, the USDA has promised to provide funding for and assist in the establishment of pro-junta ethnic parties, while at the same time guaranteeing that the Union Election Commission (EC) will reject political parties that are related to cease-fire groups that have refused to comply with Naypyidaw's Border Guard Force (BGF) plan.
This week, a newly founded political party in Kachin State, the Kachin State Unity and Democracy Party, has registered with the EC in Naypyidaw. However, sources in Kachin State and the Chiang Mai-based Kachin News Group have alleged that the new party chairman, Hkyet Hting Nan, and other party members are allied with the USDA, citing their cooperation during the referendum in May 2008.
It is widely believed that Burma's ruling generals originally planned to allow political parties related to cease-fire groups and other independent parties to contest the general election. However, sources in Naypyidaw said the policy was revised after the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), decided in late March not to contest the coming election. Junta chief Than Shwe began by appointing Prime Minister Thein Sein as chairman of the new Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
“Last year, the government newspapers praised the former vice chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Dr. Tuja, for his involvement in forming the Kachin State Progressive Party to participate in the election,” said a source who spoke to The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity. “But the tide has now changed for Dr. Tuja—the EC may not grant his party's registration.”
In September 2009, two commentaries in the state-run The New Light of Myanmar heaped praise on Tuja’s steps to support the election process, and condemned other ethnic groups that opposed the election and the BGF plan.
“It is welcome news that negotiations will be made to reconstitute the KIO, which has returned to the legal fold, as a frontier force, and that six Kachin national race leaders, including Vice-Chairman Dr Tuja, have been allowed to resign in order that they can form a political party and run in the 2010 election,” one commentary said.
“Dr Tuja will build a brighter future for Kachin State by forming the Kachin State Progressive Party representing the Kachin nationals,” it concluded.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy recently about his election dilemma, Tuja said, “From what we have heard, the EC's restrictions are somehow related to the transformation of the KIO to a border guard force under the command of the regime—and if that plan goes well, we will all be approved.”
Some sources have claimed that the USDA is also backing ethnic parties in other regions, such as Shan State, Karen State and Mon State, in a bid to win a majority of seats not only in the Upper and Lower Houses, but in the regional assemblies as well.
One source said that the USDA plans to back the All Mon Region Democracy Party, which is led by Nai Ngwe Thein, a former professor who is allegedly close to the USDA. During a recent interview with The Irrawaddy, Nai Ngwe Thein said that his party would contest the election because “it is an opportunity presented by the Constitution.”
Sources close to the Mon cease-fire group, the New Mon State Party, said that the USDA began planting their associates in Mon State in 2008-9 when many village heads were replaced by those loyal to the USDA.
Source:http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18865
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