UEC warns Arakan State political parties not to engage with armed groups

By Admin 12 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 July 2023, Sittwe

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has warned registered political parties in Arakan State not to engage with armed organisations.

Junta UEC member and Arakan State in-charge U Aung Moe Myint held a meeting with representatives from the Arakan Front Party (AFP), Rakhine State National Unity Party, Mro Ethnic Party, Khami National Development Party and Mro National Development Party at the UEC branch office in Sittwe on July 11.

“He urged political parties to comply with the laws issued by the UEC. According to the rules and regulations of Arakanese political parties, we were told not to be involved with armed organisations and to mobilise party members within 90 days,” said U Lay Tha Kyaw, general secretary of the Khami National Development Party.

At Tuesday’s meeting, U Aung Moe Myint also said that political parties must organise their party members within 90 days from the date of registration and open party offices within 180 days, the junta-controlled Myanmar Alinn daily reported on Wednesday.

Parties contesting seats in one state or region must recruit at least 1,000 members, open offices in at least five townships, and deposit a minimum of K10 million in a state-owned bank.

“We are not ready to open offices in five townships. We must recruit at least 1,000 members because we will run at the state-level. As the Mro National Development Party is a small party, we face financial difficulties,” said U Aye Tun, chairman of the Mro National Development Party.

The regime has not yet declared a date for its proposed election. Myanmar Alinn reported that junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, during a meeting with military officers in Sittwe on July 11, said the election would be held only when the country is stable and peaceful.

Many political analysts have concluded that the odds of holding an election in the foreseeable future are small due to the ongoing armed conflicts and political chaos prevailing across the country.

Six political parties including two regionally powerful parties — the Arakan National Party and Arakan Front Party (AFP) — have registered with the junta’s UEC. The ANP’s registration has not yet been approved by the UEC.