Four ethnic parties based in Kachin State have registered with the Union Election Commission of the Military Council to continue as political parties. The Kachin State People’s Party (KSPP), Kachin National Congress (KNC), Lisu National Development Party (LNDP), and New Democracy Party (Kachin) have applied for Registration with the Union Election Commission of the Military
Parties that have registered under new law all show close links with the military regime, while pro-democracy outfits like the NLD are shunning the planned poll.
In the wake of rare earth element mining, an AP investigation has found environmental destruction, the theft of land from villagers and the funneling of money to brutal militias with links to Myanmar's secretive military government.