Arakanese MPs to appeal Burmese Election Commission verdict
- Written by Te Te
- Category: Politics
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New Delhi (Mizzima) – Three Burmese MPs from the Rakhine Nationalities and Development Party (RNDP) will file appeals against a verdict by the Electoral Tribunal disqualifying them.
Candidates from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) filed cases against the three MPs alleging electoral fraud, extreme speech against the former government and promoting extreme Arakanese nationalism.
“In the appeal, we will urge the jury to go to certain locations and ask the residents about the cases to determine whether our party committed electoral fraud as alleged by the USDP candidates,” RNDP chairman Dr. Aye Maung told Mizzima.
The Electoral Tribunal delivered the verdict on June 7. RNDP Upper House MP Kyaw Tun Aung of Pauktaw Township constituency; RNDP’s Lower House MP Aung Kyaw Zan of Pauktaw Township constituency; and RNDP Regional MP Maung Kyaw Thein of the Pauktaw Township constituency were disqualified.
“When the date to deliver the ruling was delayed, the Pauktaw Township USDP chairman announced ‘We win,’ and they held a party. That came after Major General Maung Oo visited the area so it is likely that the electoral tribunal was put under pressure, I think,” Aye Maung said.
To file an appeal, each candidate is required to pay 1 million kyat (US$ 1,250). Residents in Arakan State contributed money to support the RNDP appeal.
In the 2010 election, the RNDP won 35 parliamentary seats.