Rakhine minority party got dissolved following UEC's strict laws

A minority party in Rakhine State of Myanmar has reportedly dissolved itself following to the strict laws imposed by the Union Election Commission (UEC) under guidance of the military council.

The dissolved party named Mro Ethnic Development Party was allowed to get registered by the UEC, but due to various restrictions, the leaders and workers have dismantled it.

The election authority instructed all the State-level registered parties to open five offices in urban areas by the end of October and the party leader could not follow the direction.

A party member stated to Narinjara News that it was not convenient for them to open offices in the towns as their supporters live in rural areas only.

 "We were asked to own offices in five town-cities. But most of our party members live in rural areas and we simply stopped activities. With no alternative, we had to dissolve our party,” he added.

Mro people mostly live in rural areas belonging to Maungdaw, Ponna Kyunt, Buthidaung, Kyauk Taw townships.

A local villager also questioned the intention of UEC for asking a minority based party to open offices in urban areas.

Mro Ethnic Development Party was founded in December 1988 initially with the name of Mro/Khami National Solidarity Party and later the name was changed in 2014.

The party registered itself to the UEC before the 2010 Myanmar general elections and contested in nine seats, but failed to win anyone. It contested in the 2015 general elections with six candidates, but again failed.

In the 1990 general elections, the party contested in four seats of Rakhine State and won one seat under Kyauk Taw township.

Five Rakhine parties namely Arakan Front Party (AFP), Mro Ethnic Party (MEP), Mro Ethnic Development Party (MEDP),  Khami National Development Party (KNDP) and Rakhine National Union Power Party (RNUPP) have registered to the UEC to participate in polls. But the Arakan/Rakhine National Party (ANP) is yet to be registered by the UEC.