Rakhine Nationalities Party launches election campaign, opens office in Kyaukphyu

By Admin 29 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

29 August 2025, Kyaukphyu

The Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP) headquarters was opened on August 28 in Kyaukphyu, one of three townships in Arakan State still controlled by Myanmar's military regime.

The RNP has opened its headquarters at the home of U Ba Shein on U Ottama Street in Alelpine Ward, marking the start of the party's campaign for the junta-organised election slated to take place in December.

"More than 20 people attended the RNP office opening. Most were young people over 20. I didn't see many people who had been politically active in the past," said a resident of Kyaukphyu.

U Ba Shein was a top leader of the Arakan National Party (ANP) and won a seat in the 2015 election as the Lower House lawmaker for Kyaukphyu Township.

U Ba Shein had tried to re-register the ANP for the upcoming election, but the military regime rejected the bid, so he now leads the RNP himself.

"Thanks to party politics, the Arakanese people have gained national and political power. But I would like to ask whether U Ba Shein really knows that it is impossible for all Arakanese people to create their own destiny through party politics," said a young Arakanese man and former ANP member.

He continued that party politics only helps legitimise the military regime's election, which will not align with the political goals desired by the Arakanese people and could complicate the revolutionary movement.

The upcoming election - being organised by the same military generals that seized power in a 2021 coup - is reviving a familiar debate over whether to participate in a political system of the regime's making.

"The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) cannot help the people who are facing hardships and difficulties under the control of the military regime. At least the winning politician has the opportunity to help them," said a local man from Kyaukphyu.

The UEC has allowed six political parties claiming to represent the people of Arakan State to compete in the elections. They are the RNP; Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by Dr. Aye Maung; Rakhine State National Unity Party (RSUNP); Khami National Development Party; Mro National Party; and Mro National Development Party (MNDP).

The Arakan Army (AA) has occupied and controls 14 of Arakan State's 17 townships, and has made clear that it will not allow elections to be held in the areas it controls.

The military regime has announced that "phase 1" of the election will be held in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung, the three townships it still controls in Arakan State.