The Military Council appointed Election Commission had invited the Arakan National Party (ANP) to discuss the ANP’s statement regarding the renewed fighting in Rakhine State. Previously ANP issued an opinion statement in which ANP strongly condemned the damage and casualties caused by the artillery fires by the Military.

Chairman of the party U Tha Tun Hla confirmed that the Election Commission sent an invitation but the final decision whether it should go or not will be made at the party meeting.

“We can confirm that we received the letter yesterday. They want to meet us regarding our statement. Whether it should go or not will be decided at the meeting. So, I can’t say anything at this moment”, he told Narinjara.

ANP released an opinion statement regarding the ongoing fighting in Rakhine State. Four main points were mentioned in the statement.  Those points are -

1. Earnestly request the armed organizations not to garrison and take cover in the neighborhoods and villages in Rakhine State during conflicts.

2. Strongly condemn and protest the civilian casualties and damages of properties due to artillery shells fired by the Myanmar Military.

3. Call for the withdrawal of the ban on NGOs, INGOs and CSOs, those providing humanitarian support.

4. Some townships, including the war zone and non-war related areas, were closed by land, road and the blockade of the waterways shall be considered a threat to the livelihood of the local people in the area.

On the day the statement was issued, U Tha Tun Hla told Narinjara, “civilians had been killed and injured as the fighting resumed and intensified. Public buildings and houses were damaged or destroyed. Transport routes for medicine, food, and other goods had been cut off due to the blockade of roads and waterways. In some townships, the people were in much trouble. The number of people fleeing the war had increased by the tens of thousands. That’s why we decided to make the statement”