The Kachin State People’s Party (KSPP) will hold its first conference in February to discuss party policy ahead of Burma’s general elections this year.

“We have a plan to hold our first conference in February. Therefore, we are holding multiple meetings as part of the preparation for the conference,” Gumgrawng Awng Hkam, vice-chairperson of KSPP, told NMG.

Gumgrawng Awng Hkam told NMG about the upcoming conference after holding a three-day workshop that began on January 13.

Participants in the conference, which will include party members, will elect KSPP’s central executive committee members and approve of the KSPP’s policies.

“This conference is important… We will also discuss financial issues,” Gumgrawng Awng Hkam told NMG.

In preparation for the 2020 election, KSPP will also select its candidates after the conference.

The KSPP was created from the merging of three Kachin parties in 2018—Kachin Democratic Party, Kachin State Democracy Party, Union and Democracy Party – Kachin State. The Union Nationalities Federal Democracy Party joined in 2019.

Party members have said that with the new party, they hope to build trust at the community level and better represent grassroots interests.