The main challenge for the Shan Nationals Democratic Party (SNDP) in Shan State, especially in the South and East is to convince the non-Shan voters to vote for it, according to local sources in Shan State.

Currently in Shan State South’s Loilem Township, there are four political parties already canvassing for votes. They are: the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), National Unity Party (NUP), Shan Nationals Democratic Party (SNDP) and Pa-O National Organization (PNO).

A local resident in Panglong said one of the SNDP’s main problems is to canvass votes among other ethnic groups’ because there is not only the Shan community but also other ethnic communities in areas like in Pa-O, Yang Lam (Yinnet),--the Palaung and Chinese. In Shan State South, Pa-O has the second largest population after the Shan and in the East, the second most populated are the Wa and Lahu.

“The SNDP therefore must try its best to show what incentives it can guarantee for other ethnic peoples,” he said. “They cannot be like the USDP and NUP, which just come to tell us to vote for them, saying nothing about our culture and literature,” he said.

However, most villagers are still unaware of the groups’ campaigns even though they have started canvassing for votes, a housewife in Panglong said.

“We just see them coming in and out of the areas but we don’t know what they are doing,” she said. “Most villagers still don’t understand why they are coming to visit us.”

Likewise, in Loilem, people are not aware of the groups’ activities and some do not even know elections are coming, said a source who asked not to be named.

Now, the USDP has started to canvass in every part of Shan State, South, East and North.  

For instance, in the East, people over 15 are forced to apply for the party’s membership. If not they will be blacklisted.  In Shan State North, local village headmen were forced to get members for the USDP party.

A youth in Muse said, “I won’t vote for them because I don’t want them to be my stepfather. I have my own father.”

At the same time, the well-known Shan song composer Dr. Sai Kham Lake has reportedly agreed to be a candidate for the USDP to contest from Mandalay division.

SHAN however was unable to reach him for further details.

According to the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), political wing of the anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’s statement released yesterday, it will not “support and recognize” the forthcoming 2010 elections planned by Naypyitaw.

In addition, Shan State citizens, who are contesting elections for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the offshoot of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and the (former Burma Socialist Program Party turned) National Unity Party (NUP) will not also be recognized and supported by the RCSS,” the statement said. “The RCSS is also against new parties being set up to contest the elections.”