By DVB 8 January 2018 The leadership of the Arakan National Party (ANP) yesterday announced their decision to suspend Dr. Aye Maung from his position as party chairman, despite the fact that Aye Maung resigned as ANP chair over five weeks ago. Speaking at a press conference in Rakhine state capital Sittwe on the final day of the party’s Annual General Meeting, ANP general-secretary Tun Aung Kyaw said, “The party will allow a timeframe for [Aye Maung ] to reconsider his resignation.” He added: “In the meantime, the party’s central executive committee has decided to suspend him from his position as the ANP’s chair.” Tun Aung Kyaw told reporters that they will not appoint a new chairperson in the interim, but instead divide party duties and operations between themselves. The ANP general-secretary confirmed that Aye Maung had not been present during the four-day meeting, though he had been invited. Aye Maung cited “disunity among the leaders of the party” as one of the reaso...

By DVB 5 January 2018 The recent resignation of party leader Dr. Aye Maung looks set to dominate discussions at the Arakan National Party’s (ANP’s) Annual General Meeting this week in Sittwe. As around 100 party members gathered for the 4-7 January summit in the Rakhine state capital, several representatives voiced their disquiet with Aye Maung quitting as ANP chairman in November, and some have even proposed rejecting his letter of resignation. Aye Maung was regarded as a party stalwart and is one of the most outspoken politicians in the country. An ex-veterinarian, his  political career began when he formed the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) to contest the 2010 general election. He led the RNDP into a merger with its main regional rival, the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), led by Aye Thar Aung. Negotiations between the two parties took some eight months before they agreed to form the ANPin January 2014. But the merger has never been a harmonious marriag...

The municipal affairs minister for Rakhine State, Min Aung, was yesterday voted out of office by his peers at an emergency session of the state parliament in Sittwe. Thirty-seven out of 45 MPs voted to remove Min Aung from his post, citing a “failure to perform his duties.” An investigation panel formed by the regional assembly had looked into allegations against the minister, including an apparent series of mishaps over the establishment of five new fresh markets in Rakhine State. Following the emergency session, Min Aung held a press conference where he said that he would contest the decision. Despite his ousting, Min Aung retains his position as a lawmaker in the parliament. His removal from office marks the first time a high-ranking state official has been dismissed under the incumbent government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD). Meanwhile in Ayeyarwady Region, the minister for agriculture, livestock and natural resources, Ba Hein, resigned yesterday citin...

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...