Myanmar President Seeks Rakhine Polls

By U Ba Tin Last updated Dec 19, 2020

epa08782342 Myanmar President Win Myint casts his ballot during early voting in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, 29 October 2020. Myanmar is set to hold its general election on 08 November. EPA-EFE/MAUNG LONLAN

President U Win Myint has called for elections to be held in nine townships in Rakhine State where they were cancelled on November 8 due to security concerns.
The president said more than one million voters were not able to exercise their right to vote in last month’s general elections.
In his message to mark Rakhine State Day on December 15, U Win Myint urged Rakhine leaders and organisations to help in holding free and fair elections as soon as possible in the state.
The Union Election Commission suspended the elections in Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Myebon and Mrauk-U townships due to fighting between the Tatmadaw (military) and the mostly ethnic Rakhine Arakan Army.
Fighting between military and AA subsided immediately after the November 8 polls with the start of ceasefire talks between the two sides.The National League for Democracy, which swept the polls, has invited 48 ethnic political parties to form a unity government aimed at establishing a federal democratic union.