NLD ‘step two’ seeks alliance with ethnic ceasefire groups

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 01:19 Phanida

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – After conducting campaign roadshows across Burma, the National League for Democracy will start trips to pass on Aung San Suu Kyi’s messages to minorities in regions controlled by ethnic ceasefire groups.

The plan in response to a directive from party general secretary Suu Kyi follows the party’s first step in which NLD leaders travelled widely to meet grass-roots members and the general public to discuss their problems and point our their electoral rights.

“We will explain Aung San Suu Kyi’s attitudes towards ethnic minorities and the youth [wing] to the ethnic minorities. The objective of our previous campaigns was to persuade the people. At this time, our objective is highly political,” NLD central executive committee member Ohn Kyaing told Mizzima.

“Our policy is to create a genuine union. We will explain Aung San Suu Kyi’s idea, which is to disseminate the policy to among the ethnic minorities. Whether they think the same way or not, at least we will understand each other after the trips,” he said.

On Suu Kyi’s request, NLD leaders will explain the 2008 constitution, voters’ rights and the people’s right to choose whether or not to vote in the elections.

Party central executive committee member, lawyer Nyan Win, said that when he was allowed to meet Suu Kyi last, she told him that the problems between the junta and the ethnic ceasefire groups could be solved with constructive political dialogue.

A total of about 15 delegates from the NLD central executive committee, central committee, women’s and youth wings conducted a meeting at the home of party vice-chairman Tin Oo on this next phase.

Suu Kyi’s opinions and attitude were impressive, Colonel Sin Wah, the joint secretary of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), told Mizzima.

“We don’t know whether Aung San Suu Kyi said it or not her attitude passed on by her lawyer is very positive for all of us,” he said.

Before the NLD decided on this second phase, many Irrawaddy Division residents and party members agreed to boycott the elections on November 7 during a four-day trip to the region by NLD leaders led by Tin Oo.

Since June 12, NLD leaders have visited a total of 200 townships in Rangoon, Mandalay, Pegu, Tenasserim and Magway divisions and Karen, Mon, Arakan and Shan states, over about 50 days.

“Our previous trips are to show that the NLD is united under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi”, Ohn Kyaing said.

NLD members of parliament who won seats in the 1990 election, on April 29 filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court seeking a writ against dissolution of the party and to declare that the MPs can still legally maintain their positions. Lawyer Nyan Win said that they will modify the arguments in the lawsuit and resubmit the lawsuit soon.