Sittwe: A private company in association with the ruling military junta has set up a FM radio station for the first time in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, to help organize Arakanese people for the proposed 2010 elections, a teacher from Sittwe said.

"The FM radio station, named Pyinsawaddhi was inaugurated in Sittwe last week, and the station has been airing its test broadcast program in Arakan, since March 27," he said.

The FM radio station is currently airing popular Burmese songs for 12 hours a day, from 7 am to 7 pm.

"It is intended for organizing our people to support the 2010 elections through the medium of the radio, because most people in our state have not enlisted for Myanmar Radio, run by the military government, as people do not trust the news aired by the state-owned radio station. So, the authority set up the FM station in our state," he added.

Many popular Burmese songs, but not Arakanese songs, have so far been aired on the program.

"I do not know if the radio will air Arakanese songs in the future, but now the music and all the songs are in Burmese. In Arakan State, the radio should air Arakanese songs for Arakanese people. It will be more attractive for Arakanese people then," he said.

Currently, four townships near Sittwe, are able to pick up the FM radio frequency, and this range will be extended to all townships in Arakan in the near future.

According to an official report, FM radio stations will be set up in all the states and divisions of Burma, by July 2009.