After the Arakan National Party (ANP), a distinguished political party in Rakhine State, made the final decision to register with the Election Commission led by the Military Council, several party leaders including the party’s chairman, have arrived in Naypyidaw, according to a party official, who wishes to remain anonymous.
“After receiving overwhelming support from party members at the township level, the decision was made to proceed with re-registering the party. The party chairman is currently in a meeting with election commission leaders, and it is certain that the party will be definitely re-registered”, the official said.
According to a source with close ties to the party, the central committee meeting of ANP took place on March 6th to deliberate on whether or not to register as a political party.
The source said that a separate meeting is scheduled to discuss the party’s registration for the upcoming election and determine the candidates who will run for office.
“ The decision to register the party has been established. However, the details of the party’s candidates and their constituencies for the upcoming election are still subject to discussion and will be decided in the final stage”, he commented.
The central committee members of ANP have requested township executives and township committee members to provide their feedback on the Military Council’s new law for the registration of political parties by February 28th.
After gathering these opinions, both the township executives and township committee members were in agreement to proceed with re-registering the party due to concerns about its continuity.
That is why they decided to re-register the party and participate in the election, the ANP source explained.
Narinjara attempted to reach out to ANP President U Thar Tun Hla to gather more information about the party registration matter; however, there was no response.
On January 26th, the Military Council announced a new law regarding the registration of political parties, and the Election Commission subsequently issued an invitation for political parties to register in accordance with the provisions of the new law. It was also announced that political parties failing to register with the Election Commission within 60 days from January 31st would automatically dissolve as political parties.
In Rakhine State, the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) has decided not to re-register as a political party. However, the ANP and the Arakan Front Party (AFP), led by Doctor Aye Maung, along with some other smaller tribal parties, will be registering.
