Secretary-General Zhao Nyi-Lai Founder Zhao Nyi-Lai | Chairman Bao Youyi Founded 1989 (1989) | |
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The United Wa State Party (Burmese: ဝပြည် သွေးစည်း ညီညွတ်ရေး ပါတီ; abbreviated UWSP) is a political organisation in Myanmar (Burma), which campaigns for the interests of the Wa people. It is the de facto ruling party of Wa State, an unrecognised state in Northern Shan State. Its armed wing is the United Wa State Army (UWSA), and the chairman and commander in chief is Bao Youxiang.
The UWSP was founded in 1989 by members of the Wa National Council (WNC), a group of Wa villagers, and former members of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB).
History
The first chairman of the UWSP was Zhao Nyi-Lai. He was a former military leader of the Sao Hin Saopha who joined the CPB in 1969. He was elected as a member of the CPB central committee in 1985.
In 1995, Zhao Nyi-Lai suffered a stroke and Bao Youxiang became the new chairman. Zhao Nyi-Lai remains as Secretary General of the party. In 2005, Bao Youxiang health deteriorated and Bao Youyi, the elder brother of Bao Youxiang, took over the day-to-day activities of the UWSP/UWSA. Wei Hsueh-kang was appointed as Central Committee Member in 1996. He is wanted for narcotic trafficking by the authorities in the United States.