Border News Agency
Sittwe, September 12
Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), has stated to Popular News that he will contest for a seat in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (National Assembly) in the upcoming elections from the Sittwe Township constituency.
Dr. Aye Maung said he will compete in Sittwe under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the most votes wins.
“I’m running in Sittwe Township, Rakhine State, under the first-past-the-post system. It’s Constituency No. 3, and I aim to compete as a candidate for the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw,” Dr. Aye Maung told Popular News.
Dr. Aye Maung’s Arakan Front Party is reportedly preparing to contest in all constituencies across Rakhine State in the upcoming elections, aiming to compete for all three legislative bodies.
In Sittwe, Kyaukphru, and Man Aung townships, which are under the control of the Junta’s Military Commission, the party is reportedly in a position to secure significant votes in the upcoming elections.
In these townships, both external voters and local residents in areas under military control are required to vote under Form 15.
Under the NLD government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dr. Aye Maung was sentenced to 20 years in prison for delivering a commemorative speech marking the 233rd anniversary of the loss of the Arakan Kingdom’s sovereignty, which was deemed as undermining the state, inciting rebellion, and violating the law.
However, after the military seized power, Dr. Aye Maung was released on February 12, 2021.
For the upcoming elections, the Military Commission granted him amnesty, suspending his previous convictions and sentences with the endorsement of the National Defence and Security Council. The Council issued the official amnesty order on September 11.
The Acting President, exercising the powers granted under Article 204(b) of the Constitution, granted amnesty to Dr. Aye Maung, who had been previously convicted and sentenced by the Sittwe Township Court in Criminal Case No. 9/2018 under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Criminal Case No. 3/2018 under Section 122(1) of the Penal Code. Under the amnesty order, Dr. Aye Maung was released and regained his freedom.
In Rakhine, six parties based in the state, including the Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by former Arakan National Party (ANP) chairman Dr. Aye Maung, are registered to contest in the elections.
Under the Junta’s Military Commission, several Rakhine-based parties have been allowed to register, including the Rakhine State National United Party (RSNUP), the Khami National Development Party, the Mro Indigenous Party, the Mro National Development Party (MNDP), and the Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP) led by former Kyaukphru MP U Ba Shein of the Arakan National Party (ANP).
