NarinjaraNews, March 13, 2023

After theArakan National Party (ANP), a distinguished political party in Rakhine State,made the final decision to register with the Election Commission led by theMilitary Council, several party leaders including the party’s chairman, havearrived in Naypyidaw, according to a party official, who wishes to remainanonymous.

“Afterreceiving overwhelming support from party members at the township level, thedecision was made to proceed with re-registering the party. The party chairmanis currently in a meeting with election commission leaders, and it is certainthat the party will be definitely re-registered”, the official said.

Accordingto a source with close ties to the party, the central committee meeting of ANPtook place on March 6th to deliberate on whether or not to register as apolitical party.

The sourcesaid that a separate meeting is scheduled to discuss the party’s registrationfor the

upcomingelection and determine the candidates who will run for office.

“ Thedecision to register the party has been established. However, the details ofthe party’s

candidatesand their constituencies for the upcoming election are still subject todiscussion and will be decided in the final stage”, he commented.

The centralcommittee members of ANP have requested township executives and township committeemembers to provide their feedback on the Military Council’s new law for theregistration of political parties by February 28th.

Aftergathering these opinions, both the township executives and township committeemembers were in agreement to proceed with re-registering the party due toconcerns about its continuity.

That is whythey decided to re-register the party and participate in the election, the ANPsource

explained.

Narinjaraattempted to reach out to ANP President U Thar Tun Hla to gather moreinformation

about theparty registration matter; however, there was no response. 

On January26th, the Military Council announced a new law regarding the registration ofpolitical parties, and the Election Commission subsequently issued an invitationfor political parties to register in accordance with the provisions of the newlaw. It was also announced that political parties failing to register with theElection Commission within 60 days from January 31st would automaticallydissolve as political parties.

In RakhineState, the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) has decided not to re-register asa political party. However, the ANP and the Arakan Front Party (AFP), led byDoctor Aye Maung,

along withsome other smaller tribal parties, will be registering.