The Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS), northern Burma has decided it will only contest the general election in seven constituencies because of financial problems.

It will run for 3 seats in the Nationalities Parliament in Myitkyina, N’Mawk (Momauk) and Danai townships, 2 seats in the People’s Parliament in N’Jang Yang and Waingmaw townships and another 2 seats in the State Parliament in N’Jang Yang and Chipwi townships, according to the party’s General Secretary, Hpaula Kam Hpang, who is also a famous singer.

At the national level there are 330 seats for the People’s Parliament, 168 for the Nationalities Parliament and 689 seats for the State and Regional Parliament. However, there are only 18 seats for the People’s Parliament, 12 seats for the Nationalities Parliament and 40 seats for the State Parliament in Kachin State.

“The Government has given us this opportunity; we don’t think we can do it for all but we will try what we can,” said Kam Hpang.

However they still have not submitted party candidate lists to the Union Election Commission (UEC) in Naypyitaw, the headquarters of the military regime.

“We planned to submit our candidate list on Wednesday, since we were choosing candidates until yesterday. Now everything is ready to go,” the general secretary said.

They will also submit a list of over 900 party members along with the list of party candidates.

The UDPKS was formed by members of the junta’s Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), after a suggestion by two USDP secretaries, Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, Minister of the Post, Communication and Telegraph ministry and U Aung Thaung, Minister of Industry-1.

The UDPKS, led by business man and former USDP organizer Duwa Hkyet Hting Nan, recently received 50 million Kyats (US$ 52,814) for election campaigning from the USDP.

So far, the UDPKS is the only Kachin party authorized by the junta to contest the November 7 elections in Kachin State.

Two other parties from Kachin State--- the  Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP), led by Dr. Tu Ja, the retired Vice-president No. 2 of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the United Democracy Party-Kachin, led by Layawk Ze Lum, former general secretary of the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), as well as one party from Kachin Sub-state in Shan State--- the Northern Shan State Progressive Party (NSPP) have not been approved yet by the junta-controlled Election Commission.

The military junta announced August 13 that all political parties which have received approval and are planning to contest the upcoming elections in November should submit their candidate list by August 30.