Three ethnic Karenni political parties have combined in an alliance to compete the 2015 election according to a statement issued by them on 12 January.
U Daniel the chairman of one of the parties, the Kayah National Race Democracy Party spoke to the Kantarawaddy Times.
He said: “In politics a single force cannot fight a common enemy. In Karenni State we only have three state level parties. The main thing is for us to have our state representatives in the state government after the elections, which is why we are combining with each other.
The Kayan National Party, the Kayah National Race Democracy Party and the All Nationalities Democracy Party (Kayah State) met at the Kayah National Race Democracy Party office on 12 January, after which they issued the statement.
U Daniel explained that the three parties have not abolished themselves and combined to form a new party. The original parties will continue as before, they will just cooperate together regarding decisions on things such as political process, political frameworks and working schedules for future plans.
U Nan Ye secretary of Kayan National Party told Kantarawaddy Times that the three parties will combine together when choosing candidates for the forthcoming 2015 elections so as not to split the vote, because they will have a better chance to win the elections as a combined force.
He said: “We have the same party policies. We will look at our parties’ side and at the quality of the candidates too. [Only one party will compete in a constituency], none of the other parties will compete in that constituency and instead we will just support that candidate’s party. We will not compete against each other, we will combine in our objectives.”
According to the statement the parties are combining for the rights of ethnic people, such as freedom, justice and equality and they will fight for a federal union with self-determining states. The three parties will cooperate so that the people can choose a good leader who can lead the people in a free and fair way.
The statement also said that to prevent civil war, to encourage the rule of law and peace and to implement national reconciliation by bringing together all the people the three parties will attempt to find common ground with other political parties and people in Karenni State.
U Saai, the secretary of Kayah National Race Democracy Party said: “According to the Union Election Commission regulations the three parties cannot be abolished and we also have no time to form a new party as party registration already finished on 9th January. So, we will work together in our political duties.”
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the National Unity Party (NUP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD) are nationwide parties and will have representatives standing throughout the country.
The Kayan National Party, the Kayah National Race Democracy Party and the All Nationalities Democracy Party (Kayah State) will only stand as state representatives within Karenni State.
The three parties had already discussed forming an alliance three times in the past, but this was the first time that they had managed to come to an agreement. In the 2015 elections these parties will compete in all the constituencies of the seven townships in Karenni State.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
