Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Western Command Commander, Brigadier General Soe Thein was in northern Arakan on September 20 to oversee election campaigns and to see a rare white elephant, an official said.

The Commander came to Buthidaung in northern Arakan yesterday in a high powered speed boat from Akyab to visit the Buthidaung Tactical Operation Command (TOCs) headquarters, the official told Kaladan Press.

The commander on Tuesday morning travelled to Maungdaw to the headquarters of Burma’s border security force, the Nasaka. A helicopter carrying high ranking officers from Naypaydaw arrived at 14:00 hours. Later the commander and officers went to Ngakura village to see a recently-trapped white elephant.

“He especially wanted to see the white elephant. The junta believes it is a good omen for the regime and the ensuing election,” the official said.

The Western Commander and the officers were also in the region to hold discussions with the District Election Commissioner and to permit political parties contesting the elections on November 7 to campaign.

The Regional Development Association (RDA) members were also busy with poll related work. They called a meeting with local leaders from Maungdaw.

A RDA official urged the local leaders to support USDP as it was helping the residents of Maungdaw. He said in this election there are no race or colour issues. The RDA official told the leaders there was no need to divide the Rakhine and Rohingya people, but there need for them to work together.

Local Maungdaw politicians keen to contest the elections were anxious to get permission so they could start poll campaign.