The Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) Chairman Aye Thar Aung told Mizzima that party delegates from 18 townships in Rakhine State have unanimously agreed to merge the ALD and the RNDP (Rakhine Nationality Development Party) at a 3-Day Rakhine state ALD plenary meeting held from August 17 to 19.
The two parties announced on June 17 that they would be merged into a single party and apply to be registered as a political party in the name of Rakhine National Party (RNP). The Rakhine state ALD plenary meeting endorsed the announcement and agreement.
Speaking on the resolution Aye Thar Aung said, “Unity among various ethnic nationalities is important for unity of the nation, so also unity within an ethnic group. The merger of two Rakhine political parties symbolizes unity amongst the ethnic Rakhine people so this plenary meeting is an important milestone in Rakhine history.”
ALD party Secretary Myo Kyaw said that they initially, intended to register the new Rakhine party at the end of August but they postponed the date to early September for preparatory work.
He elaborated, “We will exchange our party structures on August 25 when we meet with RNDP. Thereafter, we will confirm a new ANP party structure.”
The ALD party secured the third highest number of seats by a single party in the 1990 general election. It was de-registered by the military junta and was allowed to re-register only in 2012. The RNDP contested in the 2010 general election and won a total of 12 seats in Lower and Upper house.
