Sittwe: A newly formed Arakanese nationalist party is gearing up to register with the Election Commission by the end of April to contest the forthcoming elections, said U Hla Saw, a party policy-maker.

"We are now mobilizing all Arakanese politicians to involve themselves in the party in leading roles because we want a strong independent political party for our state to look after our people's interest," he said.

The party was formed with 15 central committee members, including five members from Rangoon and 10 from 17 townships in Arakan State.

"We have decided on the party's name but cannot disclose it before registering with the Election Commission. We will announce the party's name and our policies very soon," he added.

According to a source, the central committee members of the party gathered in a location in Rangoon on 20 April to discuss party affairs, including registration.

"We adopted some main objectives for the party, especially - to  eradicate poverty in our state and to develop our culture, including our literature - but there are many other objectives in the party agenda," he said.

Most of the party leaders are former members of the Arakan League for Democracy, Ratanya, Tetpoungu (Alliance force), and the League for Arakan Students and Youths, all of which registered with the Election Commission for the previous elections in 1990.

This will be the second party from Arakan State to register with the Election Commission after the Mro and Khami National Solidarity Organization registered on 9 April.