Ann: The Arakan State veteran organization will hold an important meeting in Ann Town on 8 September to select a candidate to run in the 2010 election, said an ex-serviceman from Buthidaung.

"We have to go to Ann to attend the meeting for selecting candidates from our organization for the 2010 election. The meeting will be held at Western Command army headquarters on 8 and 9 September," he said.

Ann Town is located in central Arakan and is home to the largest army battalions in the state, including the Western Command headquarters.

"Ten delegations from every township and three delegations from every district in Arakan State have been invited by the veteran organization to attend the meeting. It is also the largest gathering of veterans from Arakan State this year," he added.

The meeting is a follow-up to a national veteran planning meeting in Naypyidaw on 19 August.

"We will have the chance to propose the name of the candidates from our township for the 2010 election at the meeting. Most of the candidates from Arakan State for the 2010 election must be ex-army servicemen. It will be carried out under instructions from the head of state in Naypyidaw.

In Arakan State, the military authority has planned to put up some veteran candidates through both the pro-government party and as independents. Most retired army officers throughout Burma will get the chance to run in the 2010 election.

The veteran organization is a strong military-backed organization in Burma, and carries out the plans of the government under instructions from the military junta.

The military government has also given many business opportunities to individual members of the veteran organization in Burma in order to maintain control over the organization.