CNI News

14 Oct 2022

The Union Election Commission warned the Arakan National Party to comply with existing laws, Chairman U Thar Tun Hla told the CNI.

On 29th September, the ANP issued a statement on hardship of local residents caused by resumption of fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.

It was learnt that the UEC summoned the ANP official because it considered the statement one-sided.

U Thar Tun Hla told the CNI, “They summoned us over our statement issued on 29th September and explained that the statement failed to respect certain provisions of the Political Parties Registration Law and that it was one-sided. They told us to comply with the constitution and rules when we issued further statements and not to issue statements contrary to the law. They seemed to have been informing or warning us of that. We explained out stance on the situation.”

A map showing armed conflicts between the military and the AA in Rakhine State.

The statement strongly condemned fighting in residential areas, civilian causalities and damage to property caused by heavy weapon rounds of the Myanmar military.

Moreover, the statement urged authorities to lift restrictions imposed on INGOs, NGOs and CSOs, which are delivering humanitarian aid to local residents, saying that banning travels in conflict areas as well as in areas which were not affected by fighting amounted to intimidating the livelihood of local residents of all ethnic groups.

 A junction in Rakhine State.

U Thar Tun Hla added, “Our statement just reflected the current grievances caused by the resumption of clashes in Rakhine State and we believe that it is our responsibility as a political party to voice the suffering of the public and we need to issue statements to protect our people. Although they expressed their concerns, we explained that we needed to issue such a statement.”

Armed clashes between the Myanmar military and the ULA/AA have resumed since September after almost two years of hiatus.

The clashes displaced 6,167 people in August and September, according to the AA.