A number of junta-backed local militia chiefs, notorious among local people as drug dealers in Shan State North’s Kutkhai, Muse and Namkham townships, have been handpicked by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) to contest in the 7 November polls, according to election watchers on the Sino-Burma border.

“There are so far four men. All are heads of militia groups. Two are from Kutkhai, one from Muse and another one from Namkham,” a source from Muse said.

The two from Kutkhai are identified as U Myint Lwin and U Ti Khun Myat.

U Myint Lwin, aka Wang Guoda (60) Kokang Chinese chief of Tamoeng-ngen militia group, had attended the junta-organized National Convention (NC) as a national races delegate.

“All people from the town know him as a drug king,” a source from Kutkhai said.

Similarly, U Ti Khun Myat (57) is the leader of 600-strong Kutkhai militia. He had also attended the NC. “He was one of the shareholders of Myanmar Mayflower Bank which was infamous for laundering black money into white money.”

The two are said to be contesting for State legislature in Kutkhai.

The other two are U Kengmai from Muse and Panhsay Kyaw Myint from Namkham.

U Kengnmai (50) chief of the 200-strong Mongpaw militia unit is said to be contesting for the State legislature in Muse, Constituency No.2.

“Most drug production in Muse and Kutkhai are by U Myint Lwin and Kengmai’s groups. Most of U Ti Khun Myat’s men transport the products through U Kengmai’s controlled region to China.”

Another one, Kyaw Myint aka Li Yongqiang (51), well-known Panhsay militia chief from Namkham is an executive member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) of Muse District. He will contest for a seat for State legislature in Namkham Township.

Kyaw Myint was also a representative at the NC, in the national races category. He is known more for his drug business. Yongyang Casino on the Mao-Shweli River near Muse is owned by him. “His group is helping the Burmese Army to earn pocket money,” a local villager in Namkham said.

Many ferry crossings on the Mao-Ruili River that serves as a boundary between China and Burma are guarded by Kyaw Htwe aka Li Yongping, younger brother of Kyaw Myint, who enjoys close relations with former regional commander Myint Hlaing. His men tax the wayfarers and also reportedly traffic in drugs.

Kyaw Myint’s relative Sai Htun Maung, is also reported to have been selected to represent the Lisu nationality and contest at the 0.1 per cent ethnic minorities in Shan State, sources from Namkham said.

There will be five ballot boxes in each polling station: one for upper house, one for lower house, two for state/region legislature and another for minority candidates representing communities with at least 0.1 per cent of the total population. The New Light of Myanmar reported that the ballot boxes will be classified in four colours: blue, green, purple and white. “Blue is for upper house, green for lower house, purple for the State/Region Legislature and white for ethnic minorities candidates,” the White Tiger, the bilingual newsletter of Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP) quoted it as saying.