The Kachin State People’s Party (KSPP) is preparing to run in all of the eligible constituencies in Kachin State during the upcoming 2020 elections.

KSPP’s chairperson Dr. Manam Tu Ja said that the party would compete in 18 townships: six in Myitkyina district, four in Bhamo, five in Putao and three in Mohnyin.

“We are preparing to run in 20 out of 36 constituencies. The government might restrict the holding of elections in some areas for security reasons,” Dr. Manam Tu Ja said. “We expect to win all of the seats [we contest] in the 2020 general elections.”

He added that if the Kachin Independence Organization signs a ceasefire with the government, he believes elections might be held in all of the state’s constituencies, and the KSPP would expand their electoral participation to all 36 constituencies.

In the 2015 elections, polling was not held in many locations in the following townships, due to insecurity: Waingmaw, Chipwe, Sumprabum, Machanbaw, Hkawng Lang Hpu, Tanai, N Jang Yan, Mansi, Momauk, Shwegu and Tsawlaw.

The KSPP hopes that all areas will be able to participate in the next election, and Dr. Manam Tu Ja said that his party is working to promote public awareness around the vote.

“Many people do not understand politics and parties. We have held public meetings and explained our party, party affairs, our functions, as well as election issues,” he told NMG.

The party formed as a merger: the Kachin Democratic Party, Kachin State Democracy Party and the United and Democracy Party – Kachin State joined to form the KSPP.

“If the KSPP wins the majority of seats [in Kachin State] in the election, they can be involved in the formation of the state government,” Lamai Gum Ja of the Kachin Peace-talk Creation Group told NMG. “The Kachin people will get some political rights. I think it will help with problem solving.”

Kachin State is diverse, home to six Kachin groups, five Shan groups, as well as large Bamar, Rakhine, and Gurkha communities, and a range of other ethnic groups.

In addition to the KSPP, other parties running in the 2020 election in Kachin State include the Kachin National Congress, Lisu National Development Party, Taileng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, National League for Democracy, Union Solidarity and Development Party and others.