The Arakan National Party (ANP) can win in both constituencies in Arakan State’s Minbya Township if the election is free and fair, says party spokesperson U Thein Zan.
“If the 2015 Election is free and fair, we will win by a landslide,” he said.
Led by U Aye Thar Aung, the ANP kicked off its campaign in the Minbya constituencies on September 1st. The party has campaigned in over 30 villages each in Minbya Township Constituencies No 1 and 2 and claims to have the support of 90% of the area's villagers.
U Thein Zan said that while the ANP's predecessor the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party faced challenges during the lead up to the 2010 Election, the situation is now more transparent and the campaign has been free so far.
“The Rakhine Nationalities Development Party didn’t have any freedom while campaigning for the 2010 [Election]. They had to do it in fear. There had been cases where the villagers were threatened that they would be arrested if they came to listen to our campaign speeches and we couldn’t find the village crier and administrator when we went to a village. They were avoiding us,” U Thein Zan said.
“When the ANP representatives from Arakan State went to campaign, the villagers greeted us warmly by holding flags and water pots and using loud speakers. The campaign has been more effective because U Aye Thar Aung personally led the campaign. The villagers told us they are happy that the Arakan national leader came to visit them and they had only heard his voice on the radio before so they are happy to see him in person,” he added.
U Hla Aung Nyunt from the ANP will compete against U Shan Shwe Aung, Permanent Secretary of the Union Ministry of Border Affairs for seat in the state parliament known as Minbya Constituency No 2.
