MaungSar Ga, Narinjara News, 20 August 2024

Politicalparties registered with the junta have been invited to a meeting with the UnionElection Commission (UEC) in Naypyidaw. The representatives from thesepolitical parties are expected to arrive in the capital by 23 August as themeeting is scheduled for Saturday.

USein Hla Kyaw, chairman of Kha Mee National Development Party (KMNDP) fromArakan State, informed Narinjara News that the topics for discussion in themeeting remain unclear.

"Weare invited for the  Naypyidaw meeting, but I don't know the reason behindit,” he added.

KMNDPwill be represented by the party’s secretary-2 U Than Htay in the meeting.

Itis assumed that following a recent meeting between junta chief senior generalMin Aung Hlaing and leaders of the military-backed Union Solidarity andDevelopment Party (USDP) in Naypyidaw the invitation was formulated.

TheUEC has invited the registered political parties to discuss various partyaffairs emphasizing on various rules and regulations.

Fivepolitical parties of Arakan State are currently registered with the militaryjunta.

BesidesKMNDP,  Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by Dr Aye Maung, Mro National Party(MNP),  Mro National Development Party (MNDP) and  Rakhine StateNational United Party (RSNUP) are registered with the junta.

LatelyMNP has been  disbanded by the UEC on 23 November 2023 for failing to meetthe guideline to establish party offices in five townships within a briefperiod. So only four parties of Arakan State are invited for the meeting.

Themilitary junta chief  stated that the elections will be held next year,following which the power will  be handed over to the winning party. As apreliminary initiative for the polls, the junta is now preparing for anationwide census by October this year.

Photograph: An old photo of a previousmeeting by various political parties with the UEC