Vox Pop: Junta faces formidable election landscape in Arakan State

By Admin 11 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

11 August 2025

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has reportedly allowed six political parties claiming to represent the people of Arakan State to compete in elections slated for late this year and early 2026.

They are the Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by Dr. Aye Maung; Rakhine State National Unity Party (RSUNP); Khami National Development Party; Mro National Party; Mro National Development Party (MNDP); and Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP).

In Arakan State, the Arakan Army (AA) has seized 14 of 17 townships and is implementing self-government mechanisms, leaving the military regime in control of only Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung townships.

DMG spoke to Arakan State politicians, civil society leaders, and local voters about the state's election prospects, including whether the AA will accept the election, and whether the public is interested in the proposed poll and has faith in the competing Arakan State-based political parties.

U Pe Than || Former Lower House Lawmaker

The junta's planned election, without opposition parties and powerful parties, will be a sham election. In Arakan State, as we all know, the military regime has control of three townships. If the military regime holds elections, it will be possible to hold [elections in] only three townships, but the elections will not be fair. The military regime will force the people to vote in the elections through fear. As we all know, only junta-allied political party members and soldiers will vote, so there is no way a fair and just election can be held.

I see some people from the political parties that will be contesting the election saying that if the election cannot be held in Arakan State, they will hold a ballot box for the Arakanese people who are not in the country and if the election is held under the proportional representation system, it will be done. I don't think the people are interested in holding an election in Arakan State and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) will not allow it. The reason is that this could lead to political confusion in the minds of the people. At a time when there is a need to completely overthrow the military dictatorship, this side will be politically discredited and the people's sentiments will be confused. I don't think the ULA/AA side will accept it.

Young woman || Kyaukphyu

The military regime is attacking the Arakanese people by various means, from sea to air. Despite such difficulties, it is a time when the Arakanese people are moving toward the revolutionary goal they want to achieve. Therefore, the question arises whether the political parties that will participate in the election can truly represent what the Arakanese people want to be. The people need to think about whether these political parties are acting for their own interests.

Ko Tein Oo || Former General Secretary || All Arakan Students' & Youths' Congress (AASYC)

In my opinion, these political parties that will contest in the junta's planned election do not represent the Arakanese people. Politically speaking, they do not, because the political dreams that the Arakanese people currently have are not the same as before. We need to see under which constitution the junta's planned sham election is being held.

For example, the 2008 Constitution that the current military regime is using is a constitution that they wrote with their own hands to maintain power. This constitution does not include any political rights for self-determination that the Arakanese people want. We have gone through three election periods from 2010 to 2020, which has been called democratic change. We all know whether the Arakanese people have achieved the rights they want to create their own destiny during these three election periods.

The Arakanese people want the right to self-determination for Arakan State. That is why the Arakanese people are fighting the revolution. Now the ULA has controlled about 90 percent of the Arakan State. Therefore, these political parties cannot be said to represent the Arakanese people. If they were to contest an election when the Arakanese people want it, that is one thing. Do the Arakanese people really want to form a government by holding an election under the 2008 Constitution?

Arakanese youth || Yangon

In the remaining three townships under the military regime in Arakan State, most of the urban population has left the city due to the hardships. These people are also less interested in politics due to food shortages, high prices, insecurity, and hunger. If we look at all of these factors, it is clear that Arakan political parties cannot represent the Arakanese people. If we look at the beliefs of the Arakan political parties that will contest the elections, they are likely to believe that the Myanmar military will never fall and the Myanmar military cannot be removed from Myanmar politics. Therefore, they are considered to be participating in the junta's planned election because they calculate that they will gain opportunities and benefits.

Arakanese civil society workerIf the election law is not [amended or ignored], the six parties will not be able to contest the junta's planned election. The [existing] election law states that political parties must have branches in five townships. Now, there are only three townships in Arakan State that are controlled by the military regime. In other words, most Arakanese people will not be interested in the election. If they win the election, nothing will change for the Arakanese people. I think the party founders are just doing it for their family interests.