Three ethnic political parties have recently applied to join the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), an alliance of ethnic political parties that contested the 1990 elections.
UNA leaders (Photo: Internet)
The parties that applied to join are the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP), the Rakhine Patriotic Party (RPP) and the Chin League for Democracy (CLD).
U Aye Thar Aung, of the Arakan National Party (ANP) and leader of the UNA said: “There are three political parties that have applied for membership of the UNA. They have requested to become members because they want to collaborate with our UNA. These parties are ethnic parties. Concerning new membership applications, we have to discuss the issue with the UNA members [first],”
U Manam Tu Ja, the chairman of the KSDP said: "We are negotiating with other ethnic parties because according to our party's objectives our work has to benefit our state, our people and our union. So, we have decided to become members of the UNA."
The UNA held its first conference in December 2014. Its members also met before the 2015 election to discuss how best to win as many seats as possible.
The UNA members are: the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the Mon National Party (MNP), the Kayah National Party (KNP), the Kachin National Democracy Congress Party (KNDCP), the Arakan National Party (ANP), the Zomi Democracy League Party (ZDLP), the Karen National Party (KNP), and the Shan State Kokang Democratic Party (SSKDP).
Reporter Aik Sai
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
