No 97 (B) West Shwegondaine Street
Bahan Township, Rangoon
September 27, 2008
Statement No. 20/09/08
Statement on the 20th Anniversary of the Founding of the National League for Democracy
Today, September 28th, marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the National League for Democracy (NLD). In accordance with the abrupt transition of the situations (especially political) and to fulfill the aspiration of the people, which were democracy and human rights, the NLD was formed according to the Political Party Registration Law. The objectives of the formation of the NLD were declared as: -
(a) Emergence of a genuine democratic government which can guarantee basic human rights conforming to the wishes of the people.
(b) To mobilize the democratic movement based on the unified strengths of the people under the leadership of the League to realize the objectives in (a).
(c) To lay foundation for a stable Union for the future generations where democratic political system thrives according to the wishes of the people.
(d) To cooperate with the other peace and democratic forces from the international community for the advancement of peace and democracy in the world.
Accordingly, at the time of the application for membership, the members of NLD sign the pledge as "I apply for a membership in the League, since I firmly believe in the objectives, programs and rules of conduct of the NLD" in the application form.
The NLD had braved against the political impediments and overcome the ordeals during the last 20 years. It is still passing through them. The League members had sacrificed a lot to withstand against severe restrictions, brutal repressions, cruel acts of violence and illegal arrests and detention without losing the sight of the causes for national reconciliation, democracy and human rights. While courageously facing various onslaughts from different fronts by the authorities, they firmly and selflessly stood under the banner of the League for the benefit of the country and people. The NLD expresses its heartfelt gratitude honor to all the members of the League for their relentless struggle up to the present by sacrificing lives, property, wealth and other interests such as livelihood, social relations, education, health and family affairs. For that reason, on November 12, 2007, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the NLD declared that:-
"In full awareness of the essential role of political parties in democratic societies, in deep appreciation of the sacrifices of the members of my party and in my position as General Secretary, I will be guided by the policies and wishes of the National League for Democracy."
Although the objectives and policies of the NLD are the opportunities of the peaceful transformation to the democratic system, the authorities, by neglecting the benefit of the people and disregarding the laws, speeches and promises made by themselves, are refusing to implement the true wishes of the electorates expressed in the 1990 Multi Part Democracy General Election.
The authorities enacted the "People's Parliament Election Law" in 1989 and held the Multi Party Democracy General Election in 1990. Since the political parties registered under the "Political Parties Registration Laws" were required to contest in the election, the NLD participated in the election. Trusting the promises made by the authorities to the people and also respecting the enacted laws the candidates for the People's Parliament ran in the election. The electorate cast their secret votes. The authorities declared the election as free and fair. Furthermore, elected representatives were announced to be the Representatives Elect of the People's Parliament in Burma Gazette.
Nevertheless up to the present, the authorities had not convened the People's Parliament in accordance with the section 3 of the People's Parliament Election Law. Thus the people have no more trust in the authorities. An indelible black stain will be tainted in the political history of Burma by the omission of the authorities to perform according to the laws enacted by themselves. The lawmakers should not be law breakers. The law should be obeyed by both the people as well as the rulers.
If the authorities are truly intending to build a democratic State, following the democratic practices they have to respect and obey the result of the 1990 election as the first step. Only by recognizing the result of the 1990 election in a certain way, the history of the country will be free from the blemishes of bad precedence and the country will become dignified among the countries of the world. If the result of the 1990 election was not honored and implemented, the present authorities will not be trusted by the people and the international community regarding any coming election.
Even if the elections in the futures are held in any new arrangement or form, since the authorities had infringed the laws and broken the promises given to the people and respect of the 1990 election result, doubt and distrust will prevail among the electorates wondering whether the same might happen again.
It is because the same organization which neglected the result the 1990 election is announced to hold a new election and the people had already experienced in the 2008 May referendum that the authorities did not allow to express their true wishes, breaking the laws and regulations of the referendum, they blatantly applied methods of coercion, intimidation, misrepresentation, deceiving and undue influence etc. Some instances are:-
(a) Votes had to cast the ballots which were already marked for approval by the members of the commission.
(b) Voters were gathered into a group and an agent of the authorities, as the leader, represented the group and casted the votes of approval on behalf of that group.
(c) The members of the commission collected the list of the voters and casted the votes of approval on the behalf of the voters.
(d) The members of the commission casted more votes than listed.
(e) The negative votes were burnt or disposed of at some polling station.
The authorities brazenly did such things by refusing to accept the international observers. The people are definite that the authorities will apply the same method during the coming election to render it unfair and not free. It is obvious that if the coming election is to be held according to this constitution which had been approved illegally and unilaterally there will be no justices or fairness.
The "Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008)" which is not yet in force according to its section 441 which stipulates that:-
"x x x This constitution comes into force in the whole country from the date of the commencement of the first section of Pyi Daung Su Hluttaw (Parliament of the Union)"
This Constitution not drawn up by the members of the parliament elected by Notification to the People's Parliament Election Law for the 1990 election or the Section 20 of the Notification No. 1/90 and promises made by the authorities. It was unitarily drawn up by the various delegates handpicked by the authorities in line with the wishes of the authorities.
Moreover, although the authorities are announcing their intention to establish a democratic country, this constitution lacks the democratic principles and is only for enabling the authorities to hold on power for the long term. The essence of this constitution is to prolong the power of a single group. Therefore, the NLD which had been mandated by the people through the overwhelming support in the free and fair election according to the People's Parliament Election Law cannot accept the constitution. Furthermore, there are many restrictions in the constitution that means to prevent Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the General Secretary of the NLD from participating in the political process of Burma.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the General Secretary of the NLD is the daughter of Bogyoke Aung San, the father of the armed forces, the Architect of the National Independence, the Martyr and National Leader and she is the principal leader who is leading the democratic transformation process in Burma. At the same time, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the first person who tried for the national reconciliation, and who is constantly striving for dialogue and she has the ability to make political compromise. She can cooperate with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) or the Armed Forces. The essential role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be acknowledged to find the political solution for the benefit of the country and the people. Therefore NLD believe that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must participate in the political process of Burma without fail.
This is not giving priority to the personal affairs of an individual. The point is stressed because of the personal quality, skills, attitude and principles of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi which are essential for the restoration of democracy in Burma. In addition, she is the democratic leader trusted by all the democratic forces including the ethnic nationalities and is also the leader of the NLD which was overwhelmingly supported by the people in the Multi Party Democracy General Election in 1990.
At the same time, only if a Constitution that can guarantee democracy and human rights brings about, the people will be able to enjoy the genuine democratic in accordance with the principle "The electorate constitutes the political sovereignty". There will be no chance to actually establish the multi party democratic system under that Constitution yet to be in force. The main democratic principle of "majority rule (all the winning parties must rule)" and "The sovereignty descends from the people" have been toppled down.
Furthermore, there cannot be any "opposition party" in practice at any level of parliament or assemblies under that so called ratified "Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008)." The lessons had been learnt during the reign of "Burmese Socialist Programme Party". The opposition party that supports the right actions but points out and gives advices for wrong action is not an enemy organization. Under the democratic system, the present opposition party can become the government at any time in the future and hence the 'no confidence motion and vote' are usually allowed. If there are no opposition members of parliament it will not be democratic. A parliament without opposition group cannot find solution through negotiation from different angles and views regarding a policy to be laid down for the country. A parliament which denies the role of the leader of opposition that is of primary importance under the multi party democratic system can only be a stage where order were received, issued of relayed in laying down the national policies. Therefore, by not accepting the "Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Burma (2008)" which contravenes most of the democratic principles and which cannot guarantee the basic human rights, the NLD is firmly standing for the benefit of the country and the people.
At the present situation the country has to face serious political problems and at the same time, the economic hardships are worsening day by day. Inflation is soaring and the majority of the people have to suffer the plights of poverty due to the ever rising prices of the basic commodities. Social, educational and health sectors are sinking to lower levels. Moreover, because of the cyclone Nargis, there had been deaths and loss of lives in hundreds of thousands, untold destructions to private properties of the people and public infrastructure. Therefore, the situation of the country calls for immediate realization of dialogue and national reconciliation for various problems. The authorities should analyze the currently evolving international and domestic situation and take actions appropriate to time and condition before it is too late. Looking for the benefit of the country and the people, NLD will readily cooperate with any organization of any individual which aims for democracy for the development of democracy and human rights in our country.
The international community is also seriously urging and reminding for the requirements of Burma. In the Presidential Statement October 11, 2007 issued on behalf of the United Nations Security Council in respect of the situation in Burma, it is stated that:-
"The Security Council strongly deplores the use of violence against peaceful demonstration in Myanmar and welcomes Human Rights Council resolutions S-5/1 of 2 October 2007. The Security Council emphasizes the importance of the early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees. It also calls on the Government of Myanmar and all other parties concerned to work together towards a de-escalation of the situation and a peaceful solution.
It is a requisite to create a fair political climate for the better relation between the international community and the Union of Burma and for the people to truly enjoy prosperity and the democratic transformation. Everything depends upon the political system of a country. Therefore, for the benefit of the country and the people, the NLD calls for the SPDC to:-
(a) convene a People's Parliament as soon as possible in accordance with the People's Parliament Election Law, the announcements and promises enacted, issued and made by the SPDC itself to resolve with democratic means the political, economic, social and general crises including the constitutional problem;
(b) release immediately and unconditionally U Tin Oo, vice chairman and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the NLD who are detained at their homes because of their unrelenting efforts for the emergence of democracy and human rights in the country;
(c) release immediately and unconditionally from detention and incarceration all the political prisoners including the venerable monks, leaders of ethnic nationalities, the members of parliament, 88 generation student leaders and other democratic forces (especially sick and old people above 60 years of age) who are imprisoned for the political beliefs;
(d) reopen the offices of organization committee at various levels of the NLD which is legally standing according to the political parties Registration Act, which have been closed illegally for a long time, said to be temporary measures, and allow them to function freely;
(e) allow the political parties including the parties of the nationalities, which had been deregistered after winning the 1990 Multi Party Democracy General Election, to registered again and permit them to organize freely.
As per solution of the Central Executive Committee (C.E.C) meeting held on 11-9-08
C.E.C
NLD
Rangoon
Note: Unofficial translation by NLD LA
