4 former members of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) and 14 Taileng (Red Shan) stakeholders have formed a new political party Taileng Nationalities Development Party (TNDP).
Founder of TNDP includes former members of SNDP Sai Htay Aung, Sai Kyaw Sway, Saw Win Tun and Saw Min Htin and the party has applied for party register to Naypyitaw on 20 January, said Sai Htay Aung.
18 members of TNDP represent Taileng communities in upper Burma and they are planning to contest upcoming April elections in the constituencies of Mogaung, Moe Hnyin, Hpakant, Myitkyina and Bhamo in Kachin State and Homalin, Eintaw, Khamty, Monywa in Sagaing division and also in the major of cities of Burma, Mandalay and Rangoon.
The TNDP name was chosen by Taileng community in Mandalay on 19 January and the members decided to submit an application to Naypyitaw on the next day, said one of the founders, Sai Htay Aung.
According to Sai Htay Aung, TNDP aims to represent not only Taileng people (Red Shan) but also other Shan communities those who are living in the areas, such as Tai Ner, Thai Khamti and others.
If TNDP was approved by Naypyitaw, it will focus on the economic and regional development and also stand for the rights of Shan communities in the areas and organise all different Shans as one community, it said.
Other than Taileng, many Shan are also living in Kachin State and other divisions such as Sagaing, Mandalay, Rangoon.
