Kachin State People’s Party (KSPP) announced on October 15 that they have not joined hands with political parties based in regions including NLD and USDP except for ethnic parties in four states.

The KSPP clarified to the public about the accusations that the KSPP has close relations with the opposition party Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and accepted funds from the USDP, said its vice-chairperson 2 Duwa Gumgrawng Awng Hkam.

The KSPP is founded with some Kachin political parties which were dissolved and it is founded in alliance with state-based ethnic parties in four states, said vice-chairperson 1 Doi Bu.

The state-based parties are Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP), Mon Unity Party (MUP), Chin National League for Democracy party (CNLD) and Kayah State Democratic Party (KSDP).

“We have discussions with them but we don’t find alliances with other political parties such as USDP, NLD, UBP and UDP and we are competing against them at the upcoming election,” said Doi Bu.

People asked about it when KSPP’s candidates are holding election campaigns. They also asked about the connection with Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and they have been accused that they have been backed by the KIA, according to the KSPP.

“There is no accusation that we are in alliance with the NLD but some accused us of having close relation with the USDP. I will not say who told about it,” said Doi Bu.

Some people used the photos of Dr Manam Tu Ja, Chairman of the KSPP and Khat Htein Nan, Chairman of Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State which founded an alliance with other Kachin parties to found the KSPP together with the logos of USDP in social media. It makes it difficult for the party election campaign as some said the USDP will regain power if people give vote to the KSPP, she said.

The KSPP was founded by the Kachin State Democracy Party, Kachin Democratic Party and Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State in November 2018.

The Union Nationalities Federal Democracy Party based in Myitkyina joined them in December 2019.

The first party conference was held in early March this year and its chairman and four vice chairmen were elected.

Its chairman and four vice chairmen are included in the list of KSPP’s candidates who are competing in all 18 constituencies in the state.