In Kachin State ethnic groups are complaining about the NLD campaigning use of ethnic symbolism in an effort to portray the ruling party as more ethnic, when it is clearly a national and not an ethnic-based party.

Sai Aung Myo from Myitkyina Shan-ni youth network has accused the use of Kachin ethnic symbol in the entrance signboard in Waingmaw Township in Kachin State as a stunt to woo more votes from the Kachin people.

The entrance signboard was built on October 10th. One party and local ethnic minority have protested the use of the Kachin ethnic symbol in the signboard.

“From my standpoint, the government just butters the Kachin people up. The NLD worries about a decline in the number of votes as three Kachin parties have merged. That is why the NLD erects the Manaw pillar symbol in the front of its party offices in Kachin State. The NLD has no sense of fairness. The big parties show no respect for democracy. They fail to listen to the voices of indigenous people,” he added.

Shan-ni and Shan ethnics who are indigenous people are protesting against the use of the Kachin ethnic symbol in the signboard design. Waingmaw Township Development Affairs Committee wrote a post on social media, claiming that it would change the design. But the committee has yet to change the signboard. Currently, Shan-ni party, Waingmaw Shan Youths Solidarity Organization, Shan-ni Youth Federation and Shan Literature and Culture Organizations issued statements about it.

Candidates from the NLD, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, the Union Betterment Party, Kachin National Congress Party, Lisu National Development Party, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, Kachin State People’s Party, New Democracy Party (Kachin State), Tai-leng (Shan-ni) Nationalities Development Party, Lawwor National Unity and Development Party, National Unity Party and Lisu National Development Party, have registered to run for the election in Waingmaw Township in Kachin State.