The Arakan Front Party (AFP) will compete in the elections to be held this year organized by the Military Council, party chairman Doctor Aye Maung told Narinjara.
He opined that the election would be an outlet for Myanmar’s political and military crises.
“If you think about it carefully, you will see this election as a way out of Myanmar’s political and military crises,” he said.
Military Council’s chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing led the coup on February 1st, 2021, on the grounds that there had been vote fraud in the 2020 election. After that he stated a new election will be held in 2023.
However the party with the public support in Rakhine state - The United League of Arakan/ Arakan Army (ULA/AA),has a far more critical view of the Junta’s election plan.
The ULA/AA commented.” whether the election will be held in Rakhine state will depend on the\ political conditions that will arise at that time, and the will of the entir people of Myanmar.” They added “none of the elections held in Rakhine throughout history have been able to improve the lives of the local people.”
“ If there is pressure to not hold an election, the Defense and Security Council can entrust the Commander-in-Chief with power for two-year periods, as it is now. So shall we continue in the same way? How should we change it to the advantage of all the people of the Union? Dr Maung queried.
When the majority of people are calling for a new federal democratic state, shouldn’t we negotiate so that the constitution can be amended and drafted, as soon as possible? Will they negotiate to get the peace they want, after the blood of the ethnic armed revolution forces flows? Will they negotiate and come up with a solution at gunpoint? It all comes down to your thinking ability”, he commented.
The Military Council is planning to change the electoral system and use PR (Proportional representation) system in the next election. Currently population censuses are being collected from the entire country of Myanmar, including Rakhine state, starting on January 9th.
International community and Myanmar political circles have dismissed this as a “sham election” designed to legitimise the regime. Many local defense forces have issued warnings not to vote or compete in the elections conducted by the Military Council. Also they said that they will not allow elections in the areas where they are operating.
Dr Aye Maung asked more questions . “Do we need to get away from the misery of war? Or stay put ? Shall the SAC (Military Council) be allowed to continue to hold power? Is it necessary to cancel the election? Or shall we support and encourage the election to be held successfully? Answers to these questions have to be decided by the public, the international community and foreign individuals. SAC will continue on their path. So which way should we choose? How can we protect our interests? This is for us, the people to decide.” Doctor Aye Maung added.
He also said that Myanmar people and the international community should make a proper decision whether to encourage the upcoming election in Myanmar, a country mired in bloody wars for more than 70 years.
Doctor Aye Maung also confirmed that his party, ANP will participate in the election.
“We are a party registered to participate in the election. The law on the registration of political parties already stipulates that a party must compete in at least three constituencies when elections are held. If not, the party will be dissolved”, he pointed out.
