A minority party in Rakhine State of Myanmar hasreportedly dissolved itself following to the strict laws imposed by the UnionElection Commission (UEC) under guidance of the military council.

The dissolved partynamed MroEthnic Development Party was allowed to get registered by the UEC, but due tovarious restrictions, the leaders and workers have dismantled it.

The election authority instructed all the State-levelregistered parties to open five offices in urban areas by the end ofOctober and the party leader could not follow the direction.

A party member stated to Narinjara News that it wasnot convenient for them to open offices in the towns as their supporters livein rural areas only.

 "We wereasked to own offices in five town-cities. But most of our party members live inrural areas and we simply stopped activities. With no alternative, we had todissolve our party,” he added.

Mro people mostly live in rural areas belonging toMaungdaw, Ponna Kyunt,Buthidaung, Kyauk Taw townships.

A local villager also questioned the intention of UECfor asking a minority based party to open offices in urban areas.

Mro Ethnic Development Party was founded in December1988 initially with the name of Mro/Khami National Solidarity Party and laterthe name was changed in 2014.

The party registered itself to the UEC before the 2010Myanmar general elections and contested in nine seats, but failed to winanyone. It contested in the 2015 general elections with six candidates,but again failed.

In the 1990 general elections, the party contested infour seats of Rakhine State and won one seat under Kyauk Taw township.

Five Rakhine parties namely Arakan Front Party (AFP), Mro Ethnic Party (MEP), Mro Ethnic Development Party(MEDP),  Khami National Development Party(KNDP) and Rakhine National Union Power Party (RNUPP) have registered to theUEC to participate in polls. But the Arakan/Rakhine National Party (ANP) is yetto be registered by the UEC.