Lao Xingguang (65), the leader of the Kokang Democracy and Unity Party (KDUP), which  is fielding eight candidates in Shan State North including himself, maybe close to drug lord Liu Guoxi, but he is even closer to the former 'King of Opium' Luo Xinghan, said an insider responding to SHAN’s report ‘Junta proxy parties galore,’ 15 October.

The bulk of the party’s campaign funds come from his more well-known cousin, who is now the boss of the Asia World Company. “He has also spent around Kyat 8 million ($8,000) in each of the three townships he is contesting from,” said the source. “The elder Luo (who is 74) has told him he only needs to ask. ‘There’s more from where it’s coming,’ he said.”

The KDUP is fielding eight candidates in Lashio, Hsenwi and Kunlong: one for the National Assembly, two for the People’s Assembly and the rest for the State Assembly. The Election Law allows each candidate to spend up to Kyat 10 million ($10,000).

In Lashio, where almost half of the population is either Kokang or Chinese, the party is already unbeatable, according to Shan sources.

Luo Xingguang, a teacher by profession, has been the headmaster of the Chinese high school in Lashio that boasts about 800 students. “He gets Kyat 250,000 ($250) each month from the school and an extra Kyat 100,000 ($100) from Luo Xinghan,” said the Kokang source.