Salai Kyaw Moe, Chin World — The Arakan National Party (ANP) will be contesting all the seats in Chin State’s Paletwa Township in next month's election, according to the local party branch chairman U Tun Sein.
“Based on our policy for the unity of ethnic people and equal rights for ethnic people, we plan to carry out the tasks without any national or racial bias. We will run for all seats [in Paletwa Township]. I can’t say we will win all the seats. I depend on my party. I trust it,” U Tun Sein told Chin World.
U Tun Sein says that his party has been campaigning by giving priority to policy issues and equal rights for all ethnic groups. The party has been campaigning alongside allies from the the Ethnic National Development Party, which is a Chin and Mro party.
Two Chin parties, the Chin National Democratic Party and the Chin League for Democracy, are also running candidates in Myebon town, Minbya town and Ann Township in Arakan State.
According to figures collected by government officials, a total of 69,580 people live in Paletwa Township and Sami Sub-Township. There an estimted 59,000 Khumi people and over 30,000 Arakan people in the township according to government figures.
The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Chin League for Democracy, the Chin Development Party, Khami National Party, the Ethnic National Development Party, and the Arakan National Party will all be running candidates in Paletwa Township. Independent candidates are also running in the township.
Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.
