Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi instructed members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) to discuss the party's Shwegondaing declaration and why the 2008 Constitution is unnacceptable, said her lawyer, Nyan Win, after a two-hour meeting with Suu Kyi on Thursday.Members of the detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy carry out desk work at the party's headquarters in Rangoon on March 10. (Photo: AP)
“She wants the party members to discuss why the 2008 Constitution is unacceptable because she wants everyone to understand the laws, and she wants everyone to have a thorough understanding of the Shwegondaing declaration,” said Nyan Win, who is also a senior NLD party official.
The meeting took place two days after the Burmese military regime promulgated the election laws that bar Suu Kyi as leader of Burma's main opposition party from organizing and being a member of a political party if she is not released before the polls expected to be held in October.According to Nyan Win, Suu Kyi said the election laws gave her the impression that they targeted an individual. “She said the laws both demeans the dignity of the laws and tarnish the prestige of the country,” he said.
“Daw Suu wants to urge everyone, whether NLD members, non-members or ethnic people, to take concerted action against these unjust laws,” Nyan Win said. “She also said all the people should speak up for their own rights with understanding of the laws.”
The Shwegoindaing Declaration, released by the National League for Democracy (NLD) in April 2009, calls for a review of the military-drafted Constitution, political dialogue and the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
The regime has ignored the party's repeated call for the review of the Constitution and enacted the election laws which analysts said have put the party in a corner.
According to the election laws, the party not only needs to forgo its call for a review of the Constitution, which it would do at the risk of losing grace with the Burmese public, but also needs to expel Suu Kyi if she is not released before May 7, the deadline for the registration of all political parties.
Suu Kyi is serving an 18-month term of house arrrest. With her sentence due to expire in November, Suu Kyi cannot be a member of any political party if she is not released before May 7, according to the election law that bans prisoners from being members of political parties.
If the party fails to register, on the other hand, it will cease to exist as a legal party.
Asked how Suu Kyi viewed the prospect of her party's dissolution if it decides not to expel her, Nyan Win said, “she has not decided on this issue.”
Meanwhile, Suu Kyi has sent instructions to NLD leaders to pursue judicial action against these unjust election laws, according to Nyan Win, who declined to disclose the details.
“I cannot say what these instructions are now. Party leaders will make decisions based on her instructions,” Nyan Win said, adding that the party leaders' actions would be “nationwide.”
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