Most political parties in Burma are yet to start their poll campaign as they are still waiting for the final approval by the Union Elections Commission, according to the Chairman of the Shan Nationals Democratic Party (SNDP).
The SNDP Chairman Sai Ai Pao said the party’s final approval will be informed by the UEC on 28 May. It had applied for approval on 19 May including its flag and logo.
The SNDP is one of the groups that have been officially permitted to set up parties by the UEC to contest in the forthcoming general elections which are to be held later this year. It is now known by the local people in Shan State as Kyar Phyu Party (White Tiger Party).
According to him, the parties do not have to spend for the party registration, but they have to pay Kyat 500,000 (US$ 500) for each candidate’s application. A candidate is allowed to spend up to Kyat 10 million (US$ 10,000) to canvass support. Any party is allowed to receive campaign funds from people working in foreign countries. But they must be people who have gone abroad through legal process.
Sai Ai Pao said the SNDP will have to recruit at least 1000 party members because it plans to contest not only in Shan State but also in other states and divisions.
A party that contests only at the state level, on the other hand, needs to have 500 members.
The SNDP plans to contest in 40 out of 55 townships in Shan State, 6 townships in Kachin State (Mansi, Bahmo, Monggawng [Mogaung], Mongyang [Mohnyin], Wiangmai [Waing Maw] and Namti), three townships in Karenni State (Loikaw, Dimawso and Phasawng), two in Sagaing Division (Hommalin and Mawlake (Maw Lite) as well as Rangoon and Mandalay divisions where most Shan residents are living. In Burma, Shan has the second biggest population after the Burman.
He said the party would be allowed to recruit its members within three months and has to send the list of party members to the UEC again. “We will therefore start our campaign as soon as our approval is completed.”
The SNDP has already selected some candidates in some parts of Shan State North, East and South.
The elected party Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the second largest winning party in the whole of Burma and the top winning one in Shan State in the 1990 elections, had officially announced last month that it would not participate in the elections unless its chairman Khun Tun Oo and other imprisoned leaders are released.
Regarding the 1990 elections, Sai Ai Pao said there was no constitution at that period, but now there is the 2008 constitution. “The party therefore believes the State Peace and Development Council will comply with the principles written in the constitution,” he said.
The party will also comply with the principles that were written in the 2008 constitution, he added.
The date of the elections is yet to be announced.
