Maungdaw: The Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) is preparing a list of candidates, who are to contest in the forthcoming election, including some nominees in Arakan State, said a Maungdaw official on condition of anonymity.

In Maungdaw Township, the Deputy Home Minister U Phone Swe of the military government is said to have been nominated as the USDP candidate for the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament), while two other candidates have been selected for the Amyotha Hluttaw (National Parliament).

"Rumours abound in Maungdaw that U Phone Swe will contest from the Maungdaw constituency for the Union Parliament and U Mra Aung and San Swe will contest from Maungdaw for the National Parliament," the official said.

U Mra Aung is Chief In-Charge of the Cooperatives Department in Arakan State and U San Swe is a former teacher and owner of United Boarding in Maungdaw.

Deputy Home Minister Phone Swe visited Maungdaw several times along with some prominent Muslim businessmen from Rangoon to mobilize the Muslim community in Maungdaw Township over the past few months.

Phone Swe is very close to the two Muslim businessmen - U Aung Naing and Aung Zaw Win - who are natives of Maungdaw Township and he is receiving the support of some Muslim businessmen in Maungdaw.

The official also said that the National United Party, the party descended from the late General Ne Win's Burmese Socialist Programme Party, has no plans to put up a candidate in the Maungdaw constituency, but will support the USDP in this seat.

Maungdaw is a Muslim dominated area, and Phone Swe will contest as a representative of the Muslim community there, though he is not a Muslim. To date there has been no word of any Muslim candidates contesting the election from Maungdaw.

It was also learnt that some Muslim leaders in Buthidaung and Maungdaw have visited Naypyidaw on the invitation of Phone Swe to discuss election issues.