Many retired army officers who are Arakanese nationals were recently summoned by higher authorities to Naypyidaw to discuss the 2010 elections, said a relative of an officer.
 
"Many retired army officials from Arakan State have gone to Naypyidaw after they received invitation letters from senior military authorities to discuss the 2010 elections," he said.
 
The regime reportedly has plans to make some of the retired Arakanese officials participate in the ensuing election as individual candidates.
 
"Two retired Arakanese army officials from Sittwe were selected by senior military authorities to contest the 2010 election along with other political parties, including the USDA and NUP," the source added.
 
A politician from Sittwe confirmed that the government proposes to make retired army officials from Arakan contest as independent candidates in the 2010 elections.
 
He said, "Major (Retired) U Tha Sein was selected as an individual candidate to contest the 2010 election along with other pro-military government parties."
 
It is suspected that the plan was the result of the government's anxiety that pro-government parties may lose the 2010 election in Arakan State due to widespread disapproval among Arakanese people.
 
"It is a strategy of the military junta for the 2010 election. If the people of Arakan do not support the pro-military regime parties, the army authorities will arrange it so the people can support the retired Arakanese army officials," the politician said.
 
In the 2010 election, some pro-military government parties will put up candidates alongside pro-government independent candidates. Most of the independent candidates are expected to be retired army officers.
 
The military government is planning to win the 2010 election and many ministerial officials have been visiting Arakan State for preparations. "The military government is now luring Arakanese people into supporting pro-military government candidates in the 2010 election by starting development projects in Arakan, such as railway construction and electric power," the politician said.
 
The military government announced recently that it will build a railway route from Ann to Sittwe to connect with central Burma, and will build a hydropower plant on the Sai Din waterfall in Buthidaung to produce and distribute electricity throughout Arakan State.