ANP to meet fellow Arakan-based ethnic political parties for talks on regional issues

By Min Tun 06 Jan 2021

Min Tun | DMG
6 January 2021, Sittwe 

The Arakan National Party and other Arakan State-based ethnic political parties will meet on Thursday at the ANP’s main office in Sittwe to address the political issues affecting their state, officials from the parties said. 

Political parties representing Arakanese ethnic subgroups including Thet, Mro, Khami and Daingnet share many of the same concerns and challenges as the ANP, according to U Tun Aung Kyaw, a member of the ANP’s steering committee for policy affairs.  

“We invited them to discuss how we all can best tackle these issues and challenges politically for all Arakanese people in Arakan State,” he said.  

The ANP will also meet and discuss with other Arakanese political parties such as the Arakan Front Party and Arakan League for Democracy if there is a situation requiring that they work together for Arakan State, he added. 

“We have a policy to discuss and work unitedly with other Arakanese political parties depending on the situation, which could materialise at any time, to work together for the state,” U Tun Aung Kyaw said.

U Aung Kyaw Zaw, chair of the Daingnet National Development Party, said discussions among Arakanese political parties and Arakanese ethnic subgroups’ political parties are a good prospect for all. 

“Khami, Mro, Daingnet and Arakanese never met before. I think the situation will be better if all are in harmony with each other after discussions,” he said. 

Arakanese ethnic subgroups’ political parties include the Kaman National Development Party, Khami National Development Party, Mro National Democracy Party, Mro National Development Party, Khumi National Party, Daingnet National Development Party and Mro National Party. 

In Arakan State, the ANP was the most successful political party in the November 8 general election, winning 15 seats across the national parliament and the state legislature. 

There are seven official ethnic groups in Arakan State: Arakanese (Rakhine), Kaman, Khami, Daingnet, Maramargyi, Mro and Thet.