Kachin party inaugurates new office
The Kachin Post / November 18, 2009

Over two hundreds guests and prominent Kachins in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State of northern Burma, attended today at the opening ceremony of the new office building for proposed Kachin State Progressive Party (KSPP), said a source in town.

The ceremony was inaugurated by former vice chairman of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) Dr. Tu Ja, giving a brief welcome speech. Former KIO Chairman Gen. Malizup Zau Mai, famous Kachin peace broker Rev. Dr. Saboi Jum and former New Democratic Army-Kachin leader Zahkung Ting Ying were amongst the guest of the opening ceremony, said a guest who is in condition of anonymity.

A sermon was given by former Baptist pastor Rev. Maji La Ja and prayer service was led by former dean of Nawng Nang Kachin Theological College Rev. Gum Se.  

Dr. Tu Ja is the leader of Kachin State Interim Working Committee (Jinghpaw Mungdaw Pran Wan Mu Gun Hpung) which was founded on June 20, 2008 with the endorsement from KIO, NDA-K and Kachin community leaders. In early of September 2009, Dr. Tu Ja resigned from KIO, declaring his commitment to work full-time for urban politics as prepared to form Kachin political party.

Kachin State Progressive Party (Jinghpaw Mungdaw Rawtjat Parti) will be announced when the time come to legalize political parties to contest for future election in Burma, Dr. Tu Ja reportedly said.

After Burma gained independence from British ruler in 1948, three major Kachin political parties—Kachin National Congress (Jinghpaw Wunpawng Hpung), Kunghpan party (Kunghpan Hpung) and Pawngyawng Youth Party (Pawngyawng Ramrawt Hpung)—jointly formed Kachin State government. Most of the Kachin political parties were dissolved after Gen. Ne Win’s Revolutionary Council took controls the country’s power in 1962.

In 1990, Kachin State National Congress for Democracy party won three seats in Kachin State. However, the party was banned and leading party members were arrested after the election.