Sittwe: The chairmen of the ward administration, Yayaka, in the Arakan State capital Sittwe, have been canvassing for votes along with candidates of the Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) in their respective wards in Sittwe, said a town elder.

"I heard the government officials have to remain neutral in the election, but many government officials are working with USDP candidates and they have been canvassing for votes along with them," the elder said.

The ward chairmen in Sittwe have canvassed in their respective wards for votes for the USDP candidates Dr. San Shwe, Dr. Chan Tha, Lt. Colonel (Retired) Kyaw Zan Hla, and Kaung San Shwe.

On 13 September, the USDP candidates held a public meeting in Wra Gyi Mrauk Ward in order to campaign for votes. U Maung Kyaw Aung, the ward chairman, organized the event and personally went to all the houses in the ward to invite them to the rally.

"U Maung Kyaw Aung forced us to attend the public meeting organized by USDP candidates on 13 September. I attended the meeting along with 30 people. They mobilized us to support the USDP because it is the only party to carry out development work in national interest. If USDP candidates win the election, they will be able to develop Arakan State," the elder added.

He stated that In Sittwe, most ordinary civilians do now want to vote for the USDP candidates because the party is a proxy for the current military regime, which has oppressed the people of Arakan since coming to power in 1988.

The USDP authorities selected many respectable people, mostly physicians, in Arakan State to contest as party candidates with the aim of winning the election.

Dr. San Shwe and Dr. Chan Tha, both USDP candidates, are well-known and respected physicians in Sittwe, but no one knows the reason why they chose to join the unpopular USDP.

"In Sittwe, despite the USDP selecting well-known physicians to contest in the Sittwe constituencies, the candidates would not be able to win the election if it were free and fair. The USDP would have a hard time winning in Sittwe because people here want to vote for the Arakanese nationalist party in the election," the elder said.

In Sittwe, at least six parties, including the Rakhine National Development Party, Rakhine State National Force of Myanmar, National United Party, Kaman National Progressive Party, the USDP, and the National Democratic Party for Development will contest for four parliamentary seats.