Two Muslim candidates in Arakan State are denied election bids

16 Aug 2020

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG
16 August, Sittwe

Two Muslim candidates who registered to run for Pyithu Hluttaw seats in Arakan State have been denied the chance to contest the 2020 general election due to their parents’ citizenship status, according to the two men and local election arbiters.

The rejected parliamentary aspirants are Abdul Rashid from the Democracy and Human Rights Party, who registered to contest the Lower House seat in Sittwe Township, and Abul Twarhay, an independent who signed up to compete in the chamber’s Buthidaung Township race.

The Sittwe District election subcommission rejected Abdul Rashid on August 11 and election subcommission officials in northern Arakan State rejected Abul Twarhay on August 14.

“I am rejected from contesting in the election because they decided according to policy, not according to the law,” said Abul Twarhay. “I am a citizen according to the law and my parents and my grandparents are also citizens.”

U Kyaw Than, secretary of the Maungdaw District election subcommission, said: “Abul Twarhay was rejected according to Section 10(e) of the election law. His parents were not citizens of Myanmar at the time he was born.”

Abul Twarhay also registered as a candidate for the 2015 general election to contest the Pyithu Hluttaw seat from Buthidaung Township, but he was rejected on citizenship grounds then too.

In the lead-up to the 2015 vote, the Democracy and Human Rights Party sought to field 18 candidates nationally, but 15 of them were rejected on citizenship grounds, said U Kyaw Min, the party chair.

“Every citizen has the right to participate in political affairs. It is our basic right,” said U Kyaw Min. “We were given rights to run in elections until 2010. There were [Muslim] lawmakers and ministers. So, we registered as candidates to maintain that tradition.”

He added that a total of five candidates from the Democracy and Human Rights Party had registered to contest the 2020 elections in Arakan State.

A total of 386 candidates registered in Arakan State and 42 of them are independents, according to the Arakan State election subcommission.

The Union Election Commission has announced a November 8 date for the 2020 general election.