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NLD Statement 69/2000:

National League for Democracy
No: (97/B), West Shwegonedine Road
Bahan Township, Rangoon

Statement 69(5/00) (translation)

The Military dictators (anashins) held multiparty democratic elections in 1990. In all the countries of the world, the usual practice is for the victorious party to form government and take over the responsibilities for ruling the country. But in Myanmar, the very opposite has happened. The military dictators are doing their utmost to annihilate and destroy the victorious political party.

Because of this, the National League for Democracy made an announcement on the 21 August 98 that it would convene a parliament which would include elected representatives of the ethnic nationalities. The military dictators had by then illegally arrested and detained for many months many elected representatives from political parties including organising committee members of the National League for Democracy.

They lied to the world. There was no discussion whatsoever.

Therefore, the representatives of the people, conscious of their obligation to the people who had elected them and to carry through the tasks as set out in the People's Hluttaw Election Law and for the rule of law to be sustained, saw fit and proper to establish a Committee Representing The People's Parliament (CRPP) . This they formed comprising ethnic national political parties (Shan National League for Democracy, Arakan League for Democracy, Mon National Democracy Front, and the Zomi National congress) and the National League for Democracy.

Because the CRPP was established, the military dictators proceeded to arrest and incarcerate leaders of the national political parties viz. Dr.Saw Mra Aung, Naing Tun Thein and U Kyin Shin Htan. Then they went on to harass and persecute in devious ways those incarcerated parliamentarians and NLD organising committee members (torture, pressure, disunite, intimidate) to get them to resign from the party and their positions as elected representatives. Some of these respectable persons were disgraced by travel restrictions under Section 5 (1)(f) of the 1961 Habitual Criminal Offenders Act.

Some parliamentarians who have been kept in incarceration from 6 September 98 have not been released right up to the 12 May 2000. Incarceration for such long periods has severely effected their families who depend on them. This has been harmful both physically and mentally. They have destroyed the lives of these individuals and their families.

We have information that as a result, the majority of NLD MPs have gone on a hunger strike in this month of May to protest the illegal and evil action taken by the military dictators.

Their demands are that:-
1. All of the Honorable Members of Parliament incarcerated since the 6
September 1998 be unconditionally and immediately released.
2. All NLD Youth Wing members and NLD Organising Committee Members arrested on the 12 May 2000 be immediately and unconditionally released.
3. The 1961 Habitual Criminal Offenders Act be extinguished and all action
taken against NLD members under this Act be withdrawn.
4. All political activists arrested, held in custody, imprisoned or
incarcerated since 1988 be unconditionally and immediately released.
5. All political parties be given the right to pursue their legitimate
activities in accordance with democratic principles.

The National League for Democracy strongly demands that the military dictators immediately concede to the correct and equitable demands of the MPs. If the demonstrating MPs that are on hunger strike suffer health wise and their lives are endangered because of failure to comply by the military dictators the responsibility will be entirely on the heads of those tyrants. This is a strong message and reminder.

Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

Rangoon
12 May 2000