The participation of a KNDP patron last Friday’s meeting of 34 political parties with Senior General  Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief in Nay Pyi Taw on August 14th, did not represent the official view of the Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP) and its CEC, said U Mann Aung Pyi Soe, Chairman of the KNDP.

The KNDP official reported that “Three days ago, a member of the party’s CEC phoned me. He asked me whether he can attened the meeting with the army. I told him not to attend it as the party had no any relation with the army.  No one was allowed to attend it,” he said.However  Saw Tun Kyi, a KNDP patron defied his party’s instruction, and attended this pro-military gathering.

 

Mann Aung Pyi Soe explained KNDP policy is not to follow the paths of Tatmadaw, the USDP or the National League for Democracy (NLD), and “firmly maintain our own national path taking a middle way”.

 

The same position was adopted by Saw Say Wah, Vice-Chair of the Karen People's Party (KPP) who said: “The Yangon-based KPP is invited via phone to the meeting with the military chief. The KPP did not attend the meeting as it wants to steer clear of the army (Tatmadaw).”

 

The KNDP is a merger of the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), the Karen Democratic Party (KDP), the Karen State Democracy and Development Party (KSDDP), and the Karen United Democratic Party (KUDP).

 

Of the merged parties, some parties have close relation with the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The KNDP has to deal with the situations carefully in the election period.

 

The meeting was held at the request of political parties mostly aligned with USDP.