UDPKS inaugurates head office in Myitkyina

UDPKS party chairman Duwa Hkyet Hting Nan. Photo: Kachin News Group.

With the blessings and financial support of the Burmese military junta the Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS), inaugurated its head office in Myitkyina in Kachin State, northern Burma on August 7. It happens to be the only Kachin political party approved by Burma’s Election Commission.

The UDPKS's main office is in No. 314/315, Union Road in Myo Thit Quarter, Myitkyina. The inaugural ceremony of the new party's headquarters was in keeping with Kachin Christian traditional prayer service, said participants. The prayer service was solemnized by the Myitkyina Christian Council (MCC).

“We prayed for the progress and development of the party,” said an UDPKS member.

Dignitaries from the Kachin Cultural Centre Committee (KCCC), Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP), Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and township leaders from Myitkyina were in attendance at the ceremony.

The UDPKS applied for approval to the EC on July 23 and got the nod on August 2.

The UDPKS was floated by former members of the Kachin State based junta’s USDP in June. It came into being on the goading of USDP general secretary Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, Minister of Post, Communication and Telegraphs, and U Aung Thaung, Minister of Industry-1. The Kachin people’s opinion on floating the party was given a go by.

Party leader and businessman Duwa Hkyet Hting Nan was a former leader and organizer of the USDP in Kachin State.

The USDP backed UDPKS has been getting financial support from the parent organization the USDP and has kick started poll campaign in Kachin State.

The Kachin State USDP’s inaugural ceremony with a prayer service was held on Sunday August 8 the day of student led uprising also known as the 8888 protest in Burma on August 8, 1988.

The MCC conducted the prayer service and prayed for peace in Burma, said a party member.

Other Kachin parties, however, have fallen victim to the dilatory tactics of the EC and continue to wait for approval. They are the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) formed in early 2009 led by former No.2 vice chairman of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) Dr. Manam Tu Ja, the Northern Shan State Progressive Party (NSPP) and United Democracy Party-Kachin (UDPK).

Source:http://kachinnews.com/news/1706-udpks-inaugurates-head-office-in-myitkyina.html