San Maung Than — BNI Newsroom interviewed U Maung Maung Saw, leader of the Arakan Patriot Party (APP), to talk about the challenges the party faced during campaigning and his views on the future of Arakan State.
Q: How did your party do in Arakan State during the recent election?
A: It’s wasn’t so bad.
Q: What are the APP’s plans to win the hearts of ethnic Arakanese in the next election in 2020?
Since our party was first established we have been clear it wasn’t to win in the election. Getting votes or becoming MPs is not our first priority. However during our rallies we presented ourselves as best we could. The people’s choice is what matters.
Q: Is the APP trying to become another political voice for Arakanese people?
A: Our party’s position is the same as the Arakan League for Democracy (which merged with the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party to form the Arakan National Party). We prioritize solutions that will uplift Arakanese from poverty by the year 2020, or between the years 2025 to 2030.
Q: Will the APP changes its party policies to be more persuasive to the public?
A: Our party was only registered (with the Union Election Committee) just before the election period started[I1] . We didn’t have much time for campaigning. So with this, building our party and the election itself we were doing three things at the same time.
Our party received a lot of public support but after holding campaign rallies our rival party attacked us by being two-faced. They told the public we received money from the USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party) to form the APP so we would lose support. Beginning on Nov. 5 rumors started to spread in the wards and villages that our party had withdrawn from the election. The gossip spread to Sittwe, Buthidaung, Pauktaw and Mrauk-U.
Q: Where in Arakan State was APP’s voting base?
A: Potentially we could have won all the four seats available in Pauktaw. In Sittwe both the Lower House and Upper House were (APP) strongholds. We had good support for State Parliament Constituency No 2 in Kyauktaw. In Mrauk-U the Upper House candidate was the only one that we had a chance at winning. In Myebon our candidates for State Parliament and the Lower House were popular.
Q: Do you want to say anything to your critics? And, what are your plans for achieving democracy and (generally speaking) Arakanese politics?
A: Arakanese have not yet reached a level where they can separate (ethnic) nationalism from politics. They still prioritize this type of nationalism and it has overwhelmed their ability to think critically and rationally on political matters. I would like to tell our critics to study our policies and objectives before they criticize us. They need to choose their words carefully.
Q: What would you like to say to those that supported you?
A: I would like to give my thanks to those who voted for us. We’re proud of them for understanding (the difference between) nationalism and politics and choosing the right candidates for the right positions.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
