The Arakan Front Party (AFP) has rejected an offer to join the governing body of the State Administrative Council after senior party officials reviewed the proposal.

The AFP stated its position on the current state of emergency in Myanmar in a statement on February 6. Spokesman U Kyaw Zaw Oo said the AFP did not accept the offer because it had not been in contact with imprisoned party leader Dr. Aye Maung.

“We have to take matters into consideration after talking with Dr. Aye Maung. We have not been in contact with Dr. Aye Maung yet. At the moment, the situation is complicated and we don’t want to accept the offer,” U Kyaw Zaw Oo said.

In its statement, the AFP said the party’s vice chairman had written to Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the State Administrative Council, asking for the granting of amnesty and release of Dr. Aye Maung, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for high treason in March 2019.

“Given the Tatmadaw’s desire to reduce political tensions in ethnic areas, it can be roughly expected that Dr. Aye Maung will be released from prison,” said U Kyaw Zaw Oo.

The statement said the release of all political prisoners, including Dr. Aye Maung, is a “constant demand” of the AFP.

Similarly, the party is open to discussing with any organisation any issues related to the interests of Arakan State, including internal peace, the statement reads. It added that the party will continue to carry out its national duty in the interests of the Arakanese people, with the aim of creating a “clean and strong Arakan political environment,” which is one of the AFP’s core principles.

The Myanmar military, led by Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, staged a government takeover in the pre-dawn hours of February 1, and subsequently announced formation of the State Administrative Council. The putsch has been widely condemned abroad and growing numbers of protesters have gathered in cities and towns across Myanmar over recent days.