The Arakan State Election Sub-Commission has turned down appeals lodged by five Muslim candidates in Sittwe and Maungdaw Districts.

The candidates lodged their appeals to the Arakan State Election Sub-Commission against the rejection by Sittwe and Maungdaw District Election Sub-Commission.

U Abul Tar Hay from Buthedaung Township said: “The district election sub-commission rejected my appeal first. So, I lodged an appeal to the Arakan State Election Sub-Commission. The State Election Sub-Commission approved the district commission’s verdict. As a last resort, I have a plan to lodge an appeal to the Union Election Commission. Currently, I have not submitted my appeal yet. I will submit it during this week.”

There are six rejected Muslim candidates in Arakan State—five from the Democracy and Human Rights Party (DHRP) (U Aadu Yaw Shi who will run for lower house seat in Sittwe Township, U Kyaw Min for lower house seat in Buthedaung Township, U Aung Hla for Arakan State parliamentary seat in Constituency-1 in Buthedaung Township, U Saw Myint for Arakan State parliamentary seat in Constituency-2 in Buthedaung Township) and U Abul Tar Hay who will run for lower house seat in Buthedaung Township as an independent candidate.

Only U Aye Win (aka) Nur Muhamed from the DHRP is qualified to run for the lower house constituency in Maungdaw Township.

U Aadu Yaw Shi from the DHRP said: “I have no plan to lodge an appeal to the Union Election Commission. But I plan to use other means in accord with the law. I cannot reveal the plan yet.”

According to Section 10 (e) of the Election Law, “Citizen who was born of parents, both or one of whom were not citizens at the time of his birth; shall not be eligible to stand for election.”

Daw Tin Hlaing, Chair of Arakan State Election Sub-Commission said:  The commission rejected their appeals as their parents are not citizens at the time of their births.”