The Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS) has stirred up a major controversy seeking the Manau emblem as a party symbol in a bid to woo Kachin voters. The UDPKS is the only Kachin party to be approved by the Union Election Commission (UEC).

The UDPKS’ use of the symbol is being frowned upon by the Kachin Cultural Center Committee (KCCC) because it is the Kachin people’s biggest cultural symbol. The cultural committee has decided to send an objection letter to the Burmese military junta in Naypyitaw said a KCCC member.

The KCCC chairman Duwa Zung Ting and member Ah Hpung have gone to Naypyitaw to submit the objection letter to UEC.

“The Manau emblem is the symbol of all Kachin people so Hkyet Hting Nan’s party UDPKS should not use it as their party symbol,” said the KCCC member.

“Kachin people started complaining about the proposed use of the Manau symbol and we held a meeting and decided to send a letter of complaint to UEC,” he added.

The state run media ‘The Mirror’ has said any dispute over the use of a symbol by newly formed parties can be complained to directly to the UEC within seven days from July 24, the day for the official announcement of the use of a party symbol.

The KCCC has already sent the objection letter to UEC by fax and will now meet UEC officials.  

The UDPKS was formed with the junta-sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) members based in Kachin State in June 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 UDPKS led by businessman Duwa Hkyet Hting Nan former member of USDP, is getting financial support from USDP for election campaigns.

However, three other Kachin political parties the Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP), Northern Shan State Progressive Party (NSPP) and the United Democracy Party-Kachin (UDP) are still awaiting approval from the UEC to contest the 2010 general election.

They are facing dilatory tactics from UEC over approval because of suspected tenuous links with the Kachin Independent Organization/Army (KIO/A), which refused to transform to the junta’s proposal Border Guard Force (BGF).

The KSPP met UEC officials thrice over approval and finally this month they received permission to start campaigning again after stopping for nearly three month. But they still need to get the approval to contest.

The KSPP is led by former No.2 Vice Chairman of KIO, Dr. Manam Tu Ja and it was formed in early 2009 by Kachin State Interim Committee (KSIC), which was formed by KIO and the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) which in turn transformed to the BGF and the Kachin Nationals Consultative Assembly (KNCA).

The party started organizational work in Kachin State since the party was formed. It has nearly 50 branch offices and has over 2,000 members till now.