Maungdaw: Burmese military authorities have tasked two Muslim businessmen from Rangoon to mobilize the Muslim community in Maungdaw Township on the western border to support the National United Party (NUP) in the forthcoming 2010 election, said a local Muslim leader.
The NUP was formed from the former Burma Socialist Programme Party, BSPP, led by late Burmese dictator General Ne Win.
"Aung Zaw Win was told to organize Muslims from northern Maungdaw Township while Aung Naing was told to organize the Muslim community in southern Maungdaw Township," he said.
The two Muslim businessmen are now living in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, but originally hail from Maungdaw Township. They are now cooperating with the high authorities in their business endeavours.
"I heard the two businessmen were tasked by the higher authorities during the recent visit of Western Command Commander General Thaung Aye to Maungdaw, accompanied by them," the community leader said.
"I do not know the reason behind the government’s plan of promoting the NUP among the Muslim community in Maungdaw Township for the forthcoming 2010 election,” he also said.
According to a local source, some Muslim community leaders from Maungdaw were recently summoned by Nasaka, Burma’s border security force headquarters to pressurize them into supporting the NUP in the election.
A Muslim businessman from Maungdaw confirmed and told Narinjara over telephone that the authorities had pressurized the Muslim leaders to support the NUP.
"Muslim leaders promised Nasaka officials to support NUP in the 2010 elections because they are afraid of oppression against the Muslim community by the authorities," he said.
Burmese military authorities support the NUP and have allowed the party to mobilize for the 2010 election. On the other hand, the regime has pressured the people of Arakan to support NUP, the former BSPP, in the 2010 election, but there is detailed information as to why they are doing so.
The NUP has got the opportunity to open their regional offices around Arakan State and mobilize Arakanese people for the 2010 election, even though there is no election law or schedule in place.
