Political parties are unable to commence their electoral campaigns in Rakhine State because of the COVID-19 crisis although the Union Election Commission announced that campaigns could start from 8 September.

Arakan National Party (ANP) central executive committee member Tun Aung Kyaw said that political parties could not start their electoral campaigns because the “Stay at Home” period was announced in Rakhine State.

ANP won the majority of parliamentary seats in Rakhine State in the 2015 general elections.

Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) General Secretary Myo Kyaw also said that electoral campaigns could not be conducted because of COVID-19 related guidelines.

The entire Rakhine State has been locked down, so we cannot conduct any activity. Although the election commission permits us to conduct an electoral campaign, we cannot do it because of the lockdown caused by COVID-19, he said.