ALD decides not to contest regime-sponsored election

By Admin 25 Feb 2023

DMG Newsroom
25 February 2023, Sittwe

The Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) has officially decided not to register for the junta-organised election slated for later this year, doing so at the political party’s central committee meeting on February 25, according to party officials.

The ALD central committee meeting held in Kyaukphyu was attended by the party’s central executive committee members, central committee members and township committee members, totaling 31 in all.

U Oo Myat Tun, spokesperson for the ALD central executive committee, said that with the consent of the party members at the meeting, it was decided not to register the party in the junta-organised election.

“ALD central executive committee members, central committee members and township committee members held a meeting in Kyaukphyu today. All ALD members decided not to contest the junta-organised election. Since the people are not interested in the election, we will not register for the election,” he said.

The ALD central committee meeting was attended by senior leaders and party members from Sittwe, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Kyaukphyu, Ramree, Ann, Manaung, Taungup, and Thandwe townships.

ALD officials had previously signalled the party’s intent not to contest the “sham election” being promoted by Myanmar’s military regime as the cornerstone of a return to democratic rule.

“The ALD has a clear policy and absolutely does not accept the junta’s sham election. ALD does not accept this junta-organised election and will not contest it, and believes that this election should not be recognised. We must push to prevent this election from happening, and we must fight to prevent the dictatorship from lasting,” U Myo Kyaw, general secretary of the ALD, told DMG earlier this year.

The Arakan National Party (ANP), another powerful Arakanese political party in Arakan State, has sought input from executive committee members of its township branches on whether the party should register with the junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC).

The regime-friendly Arakan Front Party (AFP) has said it will contest the junta-sponsored election, tentatively slated for August of this year, but the party has not yet been registered with the UEC.