RANGOON — In an address on Tuesday to officers and rank-and-file members of the military in Sittwe, Arakan State, commander-in-chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing reiterated a familiar nationalist refrain widely interpreted as a call against voting for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma’s Nov. 8 general election. “Because [you] will make a choice soon regarding politics, it is important that [you] make the right choice,” Min Aung Hlaing told the audience while accompanying President Thein Sein on a tour of Arakan State just four days ahead of the general election. “The leader of the country should be the one who will develop the region and the country; is imbued with the four outlooks [a reference to familiarity with politics, economics, administration and defense]; understands the Tatmadaw [Burma Army]; is able to righteously and systematically take care of your own race and religion; and is not associated, with or under the influence of, foreigners, foreign countries or fo...

RANGOON — The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) splashed out on a raucous rally in western Burma’s Arakan State on Monday, with just days left to spend campaign cash before a Nov. 8 general election. Locals in Kyaukphyu told The Irrawaddy that the rally’s estimated thousands of attendees were given cash-in-hand to party with parliamentary hopefuls, which entailed musical performances complete with scantily clad models. A USDP candidate for the state parliament, Thaung Win, said some 7,000 people were invited from more than 30 villages, but denied that they were offered money to attend. The candidate explained that villagers were provided with transportation and a small stipend for their lunch. “We can’t cook for them, so we provided cash, accommodation and vehicles,” Thaung Win said. “We only paid them 1,000 kyat [US$0.78] for lunch.” Some participants claimed, however, that party members were given between 3,000 and 5,000 kyat, while unaffiliated observers ...

by SAN YAMIN AUNG & KYAW PHYO THA / THE IRRAWADDY | 13 Oct 2015   The general election slated for Nov. 8 is likely to be postponed after the Union Election Commission met with political parties on Tuesday. RANGOON — The general election slated for Nov. 8 is likely to be postponed after Burma’s Union Election Commission (UEC) met with some of the nation’s largest parties on Tuesday. UEC chairman Tin Aye asked those present at the Naypyidaw meeting whether the election should be postponed due to lingering damage from August’s floods crisis. Representatives from seven of the 10 political parties invited to the meeting were present, including the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the National League for Democracy (NLD), the National Democratic Force, the National Development Party (NDP), Arakan National Party, the National Unity Party and the Myanmar Farmers Development Party (MFDP). “During the meeting, U Tin Aye asked whether we should postpone the election...

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and military dignitaries seen at a press conference on September 21 (Photo-EMG)   Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Defence Services, said the military would do everything it could to ensure that the upcoming election is free and fair. Min Aung Hlaing met with journalists and some members of the interim Myanmar Press Council in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. When asked by Kyaw Swar Min from the Myanmar Journalist Association if the military was sure to say that the forthcoming election would be free and fair, the senior general said: "Our military will do as much as it can to ensure a free and fair election. But in some areas that still have clashes with ethnic armed groups, threats were reported. We will also deal with this. The decision will be made by the state and election commission." "It's not a good thing if there is any doubt [about the military's position on the election...

By San Mg Than Sittway, 18 September As the general election in Myanmar is approaching, the probable candidates in Arakan State start discussing with the electorates. Recently a prominent Arakanese leader has begun the initiative for his electoral debate from the Amyotha Hluttaw parliamentary constituency. U Aye Tha Aung, the leader of Arakan National Party organized a discussion with the villagers of Kway Tauk Chaung under Min Bya township on 11 September. According to U Then Zan, one of the participants in the discussion, nearly a thousand people assembled showing their interest on the electoral process of the country. “The discussion took place at Kway Tauk Chaung monastery. Besides the residents of Kway Tauk Chaung, many more residents from Ottara, Iwan and localities also joined in the discussion,” said U Then Zan. The speakers included U Aye Tha Aung, U Sit Naing, U Hla Aung Nyunt with the  Min Bya based leaders of Arakan National Party. “The speakers reiterated ...

Daw Htoo May from the Arakan National Party (ANP), who will be competing in the upcoming national election as a candidate for a seat in parliament’s upper house or Amyotha Hluttaw in Burmese, began her campaign in Rakhine State last week. She is competing for a seat representing the Rakhine townships of Ann and Ramree. “I’ve arrived in Ann for the election campaign. I’m working on applying for permission with the [United Election] Commission to deliver a public lecture in Ann. After completing the program for Ann, I will travel to Thet Taung to also campaign” Daw Hoo May told Narinjara News. She officially began her campaign in Rakhine State on September 18th. Her fellow ANP candidates for both Ann Township’s state level constituency and the area’s Pyithu Hluttaw or lower house seat will also join forces to campaign for their party. “Local people have a good view towards our party. Those in villages and rural areas invited us to hold public lectures,” she said. Daw Htoo May ad...