Shan parties push for merger

“We have yet to decide whether we will compete in the next elections. So far the [merger] talks have not yielded any results. We are looking for the best way to merge. We have agreed to hold talks twice a month, but we could not meet last month due to external circumstances. I think the next meeting will be this month,” said Sai Nyunt Lwin, secretary of the Shan National League for Democracy.

 

The two parties have been holding talks on a possible merger since May, party members said.

 

“We are working constantly towards a merger ... and seeking the best possible way to achieve this,” said Sai Maung Tin, a member of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party. “We are constantly working towards this but could not hold talks last month,” he said, adding that even though formal talks had been interrupted informal ones have been ongoing.

 

The SNDP has offered to welcome the SNLD into its fold if it agrees to deregister and merge into the larger party.

 

The SNDP has 58 seats in Parliament. The SNLD ran in the 1990 election and boycotted the 2010 election, citing its opposition to the 2008 Constitution. In 2012, it reactivated its party registration.