Mrauk U: The Myanmar Rakhine National Force Party opened its first branch office in Arakan State on May 27, for party work among Arakanese people for the election, said a party spokesperson.

"The branch office was opened in Mrauk U during President U Aye Kyin's tour of Arakan. We will continue to open other branch offices in all townships in Arakan State for our political activities," he said.  

The party is based in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, and the first branch office was opened in Mrauk U, the ancient city of Arakan where many Arakanese nationals live.

"We opened our head office on Lay Htin Kan Road in Thingun Kyunt Township in Rangoon on May 22. After that we were able to open the branch office in Mrauk U. We will also open a regional office in Sittwe very soon."

The former head office of the Myanmar Rakhine National Force Party was located on Ar Thoka Road in Kyauk Myaung in Rangoon, but it was later shifted to Thingun Kyunt Township.

According to a party source, the party has 200,000 members now, and it has plans for an organizational trip to three divisions in Burma.

"We are now awaiting permission from the Election Commission to go to three divisions - Rangoon, Irrawaddy, and Sagaing for organizational work. We submitted a letter to the Commission for permission for our trip to the three divisions," he said.

The party is expected to contest in all constituencies in Arakan State as well as some constituencies in Burma proper. However, the party has not yet announced its plans for the election.

The party president, U Aye Kyin, is now traveling in Arakan State to mobilize Arakanese people to support the party in the election.

"We are now mobilizing people, not only Arakanese but also other nationalities, to support our party politically based on our party policy. We have no plans to try and win people's support with money. Now many people, including Karen nationals from Irrawaddy Division have joined our party as they like our party's policy," he said.

In Arakan State, the Union Solidarity and Development Party is campaigning widely and attempting to gain the support of Arakanese people by providing aid such as money, rice, clothing, and medicine.