Prominent Arakanese politician pardoned to run in junta-sponsored election

By Admin 12 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

12 September 2025, Mrauk-U

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has ordered the criminal record wiped clean for Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), allowing him to contest in the upcoming regime-sponsored election.

Dr. Aye Maung was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019 for high treason and contempt of court, and is therefore barred from contesting elections under Section 88(a) of the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law.

Dr. Aye Maung "has pledged to uphold our three main national causes unwaveringly and steadfastly, and with the approval of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), has been granted amnesty to contest the election," the junta chief wrote in a signed statement.

"The legal action against Dr. Aye Maung, who was charged and released on amnesty, has been lifted. The military regime announced that Dr. Aye Maung would be pardoned after he pledged to uphold the state's oath and participate in the country's construction. It seems that a famous politician from Arakan State like Dr. Aye Maung is unwilling to let go," said a young man from Rathedaung who studies Arakan politics.

Dr. Aye Maung was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a literary event he held in Rathedaung Township during the NLD government to commemorate the fall of Arakan State sovereignty.

He was released in an amnesty on February 12, 2021, days after the military regime seized power in a coup. After his release from prison, Dr. Aye Maung made a series of statements supporting the junta's planned election.

"The military regime has been using Dr. Aye Maung when it needs political figures in Arakan State. When the powerful parties in Arakan State, such as the Arakan National Party and the Arakan League for Democracy, are no longer in Arakan State, it can be considered that the military regime has given Dr. Aye Maung a free hand to use him politically," the young man from Rathedaung said.

He went on to say that even if Dr. Aye Maung were to contest the election, he would not receive public support like in previous elections due to the changed political climate.

Dr. Aye Maung will contest the junta-sponsored election for the Upper House constituency in Sittwe Township, and his Arakan Front Party plans to contest 64 seats across the country, he told Popular News Journal in an interview.

Political analysts speculate that Dr. Aye Maung's running to represent the Upper House constituency may be in anticipation of a position at the union level, such as a cabinet role or even one of the country's two vice presidential posts.

A political analyst in Arakan State said, "His attempt to run as an Upper House representative seems to be aimed at a high-ranking position at the union level. On the other hand, he may even dream of becoming the country's powerful vice president."

Dr. Aye Maung contested the 2010 election, 2015 election, and 2017 by-elections on behalf of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) and the Arakan National Party (ANP), winning the 2010 election and the 2017 by-elections, but losing the 2015 election.

Since the coup, Dr. Aye Maung has been alienated from much of the Arakanese community and has close ties to the military regime.

The Arakan Army (AA) has occupied and controls 14 of Arakan State's 17 townships, and has made clear that it will not allow elections to be held in the areas it controls.