Two ethnic Chin political parties, the Chin National Democratic Party (CNDP) and the Chin Progressive Party (CPP), have agreed to merge, the groups announced on Thursday.

“The Central Executive Committee members of the two parties met in Yangon [Rangoon] and decided to merge into one political party,” said Dai Htone, general secretary of the CNDP.

“Since many years ago, we have tried to unite all Chin parties into one. This time, only two parties will merge as the other Chin political parties are not ready to team up with us yet. They will join us in future,” Dai Htone said.

“The merger will involve carrying out necessary tasks relating to creating a name, logo and policy for the political party. In this meeting, the two parties decided only to merge,” he added.

“Committee members from Tedim, Hakha, Thantlang, Kanpetlet, Matupi, Paletwa, Kalay and Tamu townships signed a paper in support of the merger.”

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A joint statement issued by the two political parties said they were opening the door for other Chin political parties, non-Chin political parties and individuals to equally participate.

The two political parties — the CNDP led by chairman Pu Zo Zam and the CPP led by chairman Pu No Than Kap — were established in 2010 and contested the general election that year, winning several seats.

Both were soundly defeated in the November 2015 general election, however, with neither party winning any seats in the Union Parliament, nor in state and divisional legislatures in Burma’s west, where the largely Christian ethnic minority is concentrated.