Three regime-backed Kachin armed groups to contest elections

Leaders of three Kachin armed groups backed by the military regime will contest next month’s elections as proxy party and independents, in Kachin State, Northern Burma, according to local sources.

Ting Ying, former NDA-K chairman who will run as independent for a seat in the Nationalities Parliament from Kachin State. Photo: Kachin News Group

The junta’s Election Commission (EC) approved the three regime-backed Kachin armed groups to run, but rejected other Kachin parties and independent candidates.

Zahkung Ting Ying, leader of the former New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), based in Pangwa, as well as Lasang Awng Wa, leader of the former Lasang Awng Wa Peace Group, based in Lawayang, and Tanggu Dang, leader of the former Rebellion Resistance Force (RRF) based in Hkawnglanghpu, are going to contest the election from their controlled areas, said sources from the three groups.

Ting Ying will run as an independent for a seat in the Nationalities Parliament for constituency 4, in Kachin State- Chipwi, Sawlaw and N’Jang Yang, according to the EC.

Zahkung Ting Ying’s NDA-K was the second strongest Kachin armed group. It was transformed into three battalions of the Border Guard Force, under the control of the Burmese Army, in November, 2009, despite opposition by its followers and the Kachin people.

Lasang Awng Wa will run as an independent candidate for the State Parliament from the Waingmaw-2 area, and Tanggu Dang will run for the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), for a seat in the Nationalities Parliament for Puta-O District, northern Kachin State.

The Lasang Awng Wa Peace Group transformed into two local militia groups under control of the Burmese Army known as the Lawayang Militia and Gwi Htu Militia, in October, last year.

Tanggu Dang (a.k.a Ah Dang), is a businessman and was also leader of the RRF before it transformed into the junta-controlled People’s Militia, late last year.

The application to register the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP) was rejected by the EC because it was very popular with people in Kachin State, according to party leaders. The party was accused of connections with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), which rejected joining the Border Guard Force as well as the military’s disarmament proposal.

The KSPP dissolved itself on September 25, because party leaders were under surveillance by Burmese Military Intelligence even though it was not approved to run in the election by the EC, former party leaders said.

Five parties will contest the election in Kachin State. They are the USDP, the National Unity Party (NUP), the Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS), the National Democratic Force (NDF) and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP).

The NDF and SNDP will run as opposition parties against the three junta proxy parties- the USDP, NUP and UDPKS.

Residents of Myitkyina, the Kachin capital, said none of the approved parties or independent candidates has earned wide popularity with Kachin voters since the highly favored KSPP, led by former KIO Vice-president No.2, Dr. Manam Tu Ja, was rejected by the EC.

Source:http://kachinnews.com/news/1758-three-regime-backed-kachin-armed-groups-to-contest-elections.html