Arakan tribes have called on the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) to allow the formation of the new Arakan State government led by the Arakan National Party (ANP), which secured the majority of seats in Arakan State.
.
U Maung Nu, a leader of Maramagyi ethnic group said: “I would like to call on the NLD to allow the ANP to form the Arakan State government, which won the majority votes in Arakanese peoples. Only an Arakenese party can understand the plight of Arakan peoples. The NLD cannot know it.”
The officials of the ANP and leaders of Arakan groups held talks on the plight of their peoples in Arakan State and the current political situations, at the central headquarters of the ANP in Sittwe Township on January 7th. The event was attended by around 30 persons from Arakan ethnic parties and Hindus and Maramgyi.
Daw Khin Myo Nyunt who represents Kaman race people said “We are Arakan ethnic races. I expect that if the Arakan party can form the State government, the education and road and transportation problems that we are facing, can be solved.”
According to the provision of the 2008 Constitution, the President
shall directly appoint the Chief Ministers. The ruling NLD can lead the formation of the new union government thanks to a landslide victory.
U Tun Aung Kyaw, a member of the policy affair leading committee of the ANP said: “How can we carry out the protection of life and property and promote the life of our people if we do not have the authority? “
At the talk, the ANP promised to help solve the plight of ethnic peoples without fail once it has been allowed to form the Arakan State government.
“I feel upset to hear the voices of Arakan tribes about the lack of
protection for their life, the threats to their economic and social status and the helplessness,” U Tun Aung Kyaw added.
There are seven Arakan ethnic groups in Arakan State: namely Arakan, Kaman, Khami, Daingnat, Maramagyi, Mro and Thet.
The existing Arakan parties are: Kaman National Development Party, Khmi National Development Party, Mro Ethnics Party, Khumi (Khmi) National Party, the Mro National Democracy Party, Daingnet National Development Party and Mro Ethnic Development Party.
In the 2020 General Elections, the ANP secured the majority seats in Arakan State parliament with seven seats, followed by the NLD with five seats including Chin Ethnic Affairs Minister, the Arakan Font Party (AFP), with two seats and the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) with one seat.