Burma's Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brigadier General Phone Swe arrived in Maungdaw on Wednesday along with 10 top Muslim businessmen from Rangoon for electioneering in Muslim dominated areas, said a retired official from Maungdaw.

"It is certain his visit is related to the 2010 election because he met many Muslim leaders and some USDA leaders in Maungdaw soon after he arrived in our town from Sittwe. In the meeting he discussed the election," he said.

Phone Swe arranged the meeting in Aung Rit Tha hall situated at the Riot Police Station, a few kilometers outside Maungdaw, where 10 Muslim businessmen and other government officials attended.

"I know two of the Muslim businessmen - Aung Naing and Aung Zaw Win - but not the others. They will reportedly contest the 2010 election in Maungdaw Township, but details about the election plan for our township being adopted by the military government have not been revealed," he said.

Word is now spreading among the people in Maungdaw Township that Aung Naing and Aung Zaw Win will contest the election in Maungdaw Township. The two businessmen are natives of Maungdaw - Aung Naing is from Nga Khu Ra Village while Aung Zaw Win is from Ale Than Kyaw. Both now live in Rangoon.

"Aung Naing and Aung Zaw Win are close associates of the junta authorities. They have invested in many business sectors in Burma along with some army generals," the official said.

The Muslim community in northern Arakan State will be able to vote in the election even though the authorities have issued them white ID cards meant for foreign nationals.

A former member of the Arakan League for Democracy in Maungdaw who wished to remain anonymous said that Muslim community in Maungdaw and Buthidaung will vote for their Muslim leaders and not junta associates, because they dislike the current military government due to the oppression and discrimination Muslims face in Burma.

Because of this, the military authorities are now trying to organize the Muslim community to support pro-military government candidates in the forthcoming election.