An upbeat Burmese military junta sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) in Kachin State has recently launched a series of campaigns to kick start its preparations for the 2010 general elections announced by the regime before the May referendum on the draft constitution, observers said.

The preparations by the USDA revolve around several community works done by its members such as providing charity and offering free medical treatment to people, according to a resident in Myitkyina.

"The USDA is striving to attract the people's attention and make them aware of its existence. The USDA has put up a big billboard in front of monasteries which says that 'the charity is organized and held by USDA', a resident told KNG.

In Myitkyina Township, Shanzu quarter, famous monasteries such as Wuntu Monastery and Ta-tanah-beik-manh have been targeted as pivotal places for their charity movement, a resident added.

In the beginning of October the USDA organized free medical treatment for residents. The medical treatment package under the aegis of the USDA was one of their campaign strategies for the 2010 election to garner votes from the electorate. More such activities to woo voters are on the cards it seems, local observers added.