Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by former Lower House MP Dr. Aye Maung got the green-light to register as a political party, according to a statement by Union Election Commission (UEC) on January 11.

Soe Win, deputy head of the AFP said: “We got the reply letter dated 11 January yesterday. During this month, we will coordinate the future tasks by inviting the party’s founders as quickly as possible.”

Tin Maung Win, son of Dr. Aye Maung said: “Our party will have to submit the organizational set-up to the UEC within 90 days. So, the chair and vice-chair will be elected according to the decisions arrived at the party’s CEC meeting.

“We set up the party in order to officially do the politics. We will carry out the Rakhine affairs officially. We are doing our best as Dr. Aye Maung is still under arrest,” Tin Maung Win added.

Lawyer Khin Nu is chosen as the party leader and Soe Win, deputy head and representative. On October 31, the AFP submitted its application to the UEC to register as a political party.

The UEC did not allow the application under the name of “Father Arakan Party” as the party’s name included “Father”. Later, the party changed its name into the “AFP”.

The AFP will be led by Dr. Aye Maung who is still pending trails at Sittwe District Court under two charges. At a literati talk in commemoration of the fall of Rakhine Kingdom held in Yathaedaung Township on January 15, 2018, Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung were arrested. Then, both were charged under Section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Associations Act and Section 505 (b) and Section 122 of the Penal Code. 

As an independent candidate, Tin Maung Win won a landslide victory in Yathaedaung Constituency in the 2018 by-election.