Wednesday, 03 August 2011 21:29 Tun Tun
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Aung San Suu Kyi should play a greater role in electoral politics, and the National League for Democracy (NLD) should become more pragmatic.
sent to the NLD by Han Shwe, the chairman of the National Unity Party, and other political party leaders. He said working for political change and reform within the Parliament can improve the political process.
“Peace issues regarding ethnic nationalities can be worked on and talked about in the Parliament. Working within this institution is more efficient than working outside it,” Han Shwe said.
He noted that the government has said that the Parliament process is a step toward disciplined democracy, but the NLD has argued that the 2008 Constitution was drafted unilaterally by the then-ruling military regime, which took power by a coup. The NLD does not recognize the roadmap to democracy and did not take part in last year’s election.
Han Shwe’s call conflicts with a recent letter sent by the Home Ministry to the NLD warning that it should not take part in political activities because it is not a registered political party. The NLD has said that it will raise the issue in the UN, contending that the current government is oppressing and restricting its democratic right of freedom of association granted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Critics of the government charge that the Parliament is unfairly controlled by former military officers. The NUP, which inherited the political legacy of the Burma Socialist Programme Party which was overthrown by a 1988 popular uprising, said that people should give the process a few years and see what improvements might occur.
“They must work on the principle of division of powers. If they ignore this principle and follow a centralized form, we also won’t accept them. We will oppose them too,” Han Shwe said.
“Working through Constitution-based politics is our party’s policy. So we will work with and follow the Constitution,” he told Mizzima.
Despite the landslide victory by the NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi in the 1990 general election, the junta ignored the election results. Moreover, the military government has instituted electoral laws and rules barring Suu Kyi and other NLD party leaders from contesting in the 2010 general election.
NLD central committee member Nyan Win told Mizzima that the NLD is a legal party and it does not accept the 2008 Constitution.
The Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics has also called for Suu Kyi to contest in the election.
“We don’t want to say that trying to uphold the 1990 election results is wrong, but it is unworkable. They should shift to pragmatic politics. If they do not follow this line, it will affect everything,” said party leader Aye Lwin.
In Burma, multi-party politics is still weak, he said, but if Suu Kyi takes part more people will take part in the politics.
New Delhi (Mizzima) – Aung San Suu Kyi should play a greater role in electoral politics, and the National League for Democracy (NLD) should become more pragmatic.
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| National Union Party members pay respect to the flag at the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the party. Photo: Mizzima |
“Peace issues regarding ethnic nationalities can be worked on and talked about in the Parliament. Working within this institution is more efficient than working outside it,” Han Shwe said.
He noted that the government has said that the Parliament process is a step toward disciplined democracy, but the NLD has argued that the 2008 Constitution was drafted unilaterally by the then-ruling military regime, which took power by a coup. The NLD does not recognize the roadmap to democracy and did not take part in last year’s election.
Han Shwe’s call conflicts with a recent letter sent by the Home Ministry to the NLD warning that it should not take part in political activities because it is not a registered political party. The NLD has said that it will raise the issue in the UN, contending that the current government is oppressing and restricting its democratic right of freedom of association granted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Critics of the government charge that the Parliament is unfairly controlled by former military officers. The NUP, which inherited the political legacy of the Burma Socialist Programme Party which was overthrown by a 1988 popular uprising, said that people should give the process a few years and see what improvements might occur.
“They must work on the principle of division of powers. If they ignore this principle and follow a centralized form, we also won’t accept them. We will oppose them too,” Han Shwe said.
“Working through Constitution-based politics is our party’s policy. So we will work with and follow the Constitution,” he told Mizzima.
Despite the landslide victory by the NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi in the 1990 general election, the junta ignored the election results. Moreover, the military government has instituted electoral laws and rules barring Suu Kyi and other NLD party leaders from contesting in the 2010 general election.
NLD central committee member Nyan Win told Mizzima that the NLD is a legal party and it does not accept the 2008 Constitution.
The Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics has also called for Suu Kyi to contest in the election.
“We don’t want to say that trying to uphold the 1990 election results is wrong, but it is unworkable. They should shift to pragmatic politics. If they do not follow this line, it will affect everything,” said party leader Aye Lwin.
In Burma, multi-party politics is still weak, he said, but if Suu Kyi takes part more people will take part in the politics.
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