“The election was held by U Kyi San, the Township Administration officer with the permission of U Aung Myint Soe, the District Administration officer of Maungdaw District. The District officer ordered the Township officer not let Rohingya take part in the election,” said a local who didn’t want their name used.

According to a Maungdaw Town business man, these kinds of sham elections are very unfair.

“Rohingya people think the situation in Arakan State will not improve in the future and this makes them very upset.”

A new ward administration officer was elected to govern 100 houses and several administration council members, said a villager of Ward No.4 who spoke on condition of anonymity.