Maungdaw, Arakan State: The USDP has nominated candidates for the forthcoming election for northern Arakan, said a politician from Maungdaw.

The candidates were chosen in a meeting with the Western Command Commander Major General Thanug Aye on August 23, the politician said.

The supporters and senior members of USDP from northern Arakan and the Western Command Commander met in Akyab on August 23.

At the meeting, the Commander nominated two Arakanese  Rakhine including USDP district secretary, Htun Hla Sein along with three Arakanese Rohingya: Master Jangir Alam, Aung Zaw Win and Zahidul Rahaman for Maungdaw, according to the Maungdaw local elder.

For Buthidung Township, two Arakanese Rohingya and two Arakanese Rakhine were nominated as candidates.

The nomination of candidates was not announced by the officials of USDP, but it is known in northern Arakan, said a student from Maungdaw.

The people from northern Arakan are still waiting for a political party which will represent the Arakanese Rohingya community as in the 1990 elections. There was a political party which was registered with the Election Commission, but till now in northern Arakan they have not campaigned or opened an office, said a politician.

In Maungdaw, there is only the USDP political party office for the forthcoming election. But, we don’t know when the junta will give permission to open other political party offices, the politician said.