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Representatives of the People elected to the Parliament in the 1990
multiparty democratic elections
(Committee Representing People's Parliament)

CRPP Notification 4/1999

1. There are two political connotations to the word "MANDATE". Firstly, derived from the Latin word " MANDARE" the meaning is " a command from a superior to a subordinate ordering him how to act ''. Secondly, derived from the French word " MANDAT" the meaning is "permission to govern according to declared policies, regarded as officially granted by an electorate to a particular party upon a decisive outcome of an election".

2. According to this second definition, the political party that obtained a working majority has been given the mandate by the electorate to govern according to its declared policies.

3. During the entire period when the Burmese Way to Socialism Party had the mandate, the representatives in parliament had to act in accordance with the policies laid down by the party. When they were not acceptable by the party they had to resign from the parliament.

4. The promises made by the political parties prior to the elections have to be implemented in the parliament and this is what " MANDATE" signifies.

5. The National League for Democracy openly declared its main policy was to abolish military rule and to build a democratic country. Out of 485 seats, The NLD won 392. These elected representatives must abide by the policies of the NLD. They all support the NLD and those who cannot actively participate in the implementation of the policies have given their written consent to the central executive committee to act on their behalf.

6. In exercise of the MANDATE given to the NLD by the people and in exercise of the authority vested in it by the parliamentarians-elect, the Central Executive Committee of the NLD wrote to the State Peace and Development Council to convene parliament Section 47 of the Pyithu Hluttaw Law (1974) which is still in force stipulates that " If 34% of the parliamentarians requisition a parliamentary meeting, the State Council shall convene one". By not complying to this request, this provision of law is contravened by the authorities. The National League for Democracy is empowered by 251 parliamentarians which is more than the required 34%.

7. Because the authorities have failed to act in accordance with the provisions of the law, the National League for Democracy has had to take this step. We again make this known to the people of the country that the State Peace and Development Council is violating the provisions of law and is entirely responsible for whatever consequences may result by their flouting the law.

Committee representing People's Parliament
Rangoon 13 October 1998
(The National League for Democracy takes full responsibility for distribution.)