Kyauk Taw: The Rakhine National Development Party has opened 11 township offices in Arakan State since its approval as a political party by the Election Commission, said a party source.

Speaking to Narinjara, party Chairman U Aye Maung said, "We were able to open 11 township offices in our state by opening an office in Kyauk Taw on Thursday. Now only six township offices remain to be opened in Arakan."

The party has opened offices in all but six townships in Arakan. The remaining townships are Maungdaw, Man Aung, Ann, Taungup, Thandwe, and Gwa.

The RNDP opened an office on Thursday in Kyauk Taw, with Chairman U Aye Maung and over 300 participants attending. Kyauk Taw is a business town close to Paletwa Township in southern Chin State.

"Over 300 people attended the inaugural ceremony of the office in the town. It was held with a traditional ceremony, and many participants asked several questions to party leaders, especially on the 2008 constitution," he said. Party leaders responded to questions one after the other about the 2008 referendum.

"People in our state doubted the constitution approved by the government's referendum in 2008, but they understood after explanations of our leaders. They understood our policy and main objectives in the ceremony, and they donated cash worth 900,000 Kyats to the party's fund," the chairman said.

During the opening ceremony, the RNDP Kyauk Taw Township committee was formed with 20 members. Some pamphlets and newsletters containing party policies were also distributed among the people.

Some officers from army intelligence and the police department attended the ceremony to closely monitor party activities, but did not cause any disturbances.

"Our party is the only nationalist party of Arakan State to carry out the state's interest and development, so many people in our state support our party morally and physically. We hope we will win in Arakan State in the forthcoming election," the chairman said.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party and the Rakhin National Force (Myanmar) Party are also strong in Arakan State, and are major rivals of RNDP in the elections scheduled for the end of this year.