Members of Burma's opposition National League for Democracy will continue “the democratic struggle” after the party's expected dissolution on May 7, veteran NLD official Win Tin said on Monday.Supporters of the National League for Democracy gather at the party's headquarters in Rangoon. (Photo: Reuters)
Parties have until May 7 to register for the upcoming election, but the NLD's central executive committee (CEC) decided on March 29 not to reregister, opening the way for the regime to ban the party.
“With Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as our leader, our party members will continue the democratic struggle,” said Win Tin.
Win Tin and two other CEC members, Ohn Kyaing and Han Thar Myint, proposed that party members across the country, with Suu Kyi and NLD Vice-Chairman Tin Oo as their nucleus, should create a network and continue the democratic struggle.
But CEC member Khin Maung Swe said he rejected the proposal “because it will take us on a confrontation line with the regime.”
Khin Maung Swe said that the party will also issue a statement on Tuesday apologizing to the public for its failure in the democratic struggle. “The statement itself will be titled 'Appeal to the Public,' but it is actually an apology to the people,” he said.
At its first meeting since March 29, the party's central executive committee also decided on Monday to form a 17-member committee to oversee the party's property and finances.
“This is to prepare for the party if something happens after May 7,” NLD spokesman Nyan Win said.
The committee will be headed by NLD Vice-Chairman Tin Oo.
It is still unclear what the party will do after May 7. NLD sources say some party officials will probably form their own political parties to contest the election.
Dr Than Nyein, a CEC member who favored party registration and participation in the election, said “the activities of the party officials after May 7 can no longer be called NLD party activities. They will only be individual activities.”
Comments
Post a Comment