The Arakan State government, the Arakan State Parliament and the armed forces are marching together for peace in Arakan State according to U San Kyaw Hla, outgoing Speaker on the final day of the second Arakan State Parliament.
It is highly significant that neither the Tatmadaw nor the Arakan State government objected to the proposal to remove the United League of Arakan /Arakan Army (ULA/AA) from the list of terrorist groups. It can be said that the Tatmadaw, the Arakan State government and the Arakan State Parliament are moving along the same path towards achieving peace in Arakan State.
The Speaker continued “Soon we are going to leave this place. We need to think about whether we have carried out our duties. “
Three proposals are unanimously approved in the Arakan State Parliament at the 15-day session of the second parliament as all proposals really represent the public, U San Kyaw Hla said.
In the 2020 General Elections, the Arakan National Party (ANP) won seven seats for Arakan State Parliament, the National League for Democracy (NLD), five seats including one Chin ethnic affairs minister, the Arakan Front Party (AFP), two seats and the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), one seat.
The 15 elected candidates and five military MPs are to attend the first regular session of the third Arakan State parliament.
Among the elected candidates, two candidates aged over 60, three candidates aged below 40 and ten candidates aged over 40 and 50, said U San Kyaw Hla, Speaker of Arakan State Parliament.
“The average age of 15 elected candidates is 48(whereas the outgoing parliamentarians are much older) I think the candidates can perform their duties much better than us, as most of the candidates are middle-age” he added.
In the 2015 Elections, there were 47 lawmakers in Arakan State parliament—22 from the ANP, nine from the NLD, three from the USDP, one independent candidate and 12 from the army.
Only 15 elected candidates can attend the third Arakan State parliament as the Union Election Commission (UEC) cancelled the elections in nine townships and two constituencies in two townships in the 2020 General Elections.
The first regular session of the third Arakan State Parliament will be held on February 9th. On that day, the selection of speaker and the deputy speaker and the oath-taking of the MPs will be held.
