Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burma's main opposition party the National League for Democracy on Thursday launched a signature campaign reiterating its call for the release of all political prisoners including detained party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo.

Nyan Win, NLD spokesperson said, the campaign is to express the peoples' desire and the peoples' support on the NLD's New Year's Day statement that was supported by seven ethnic political parties.

"The campaign is in the form of a support to the New year's Day statement that demanded the release of all political prisoners as the first step to resolve Burma's political crisis," Nyan Win said.

Nyan Win added that several hundred people, who attended the Union Day celebration at the party's headquarters, on Thursday were seen signing the petition, which they put on the board.

"I came home quite early, so I don't know the exact number of people who signed the petition, but I think at least 300 to 400 did sign the petition," Nyan Win added.

He said the campaign had in fact begun in several other parts of the country and will continue in various areas.

In a ceremony marking Burma's 62nd anniversary of Union Day in the NLD head office, the NLD reiterated its call to the military regime to release all political prisoners, so as to begin a dialogue and to convene Parliament.

With diplomats from United States, France, UK, Germany and Italy, at least 500 NLD members and supporters attended that the ceremony, Nyan Win said.

Meanwhile, in Burma's new jungle capital Naypyitaw, the ruling junta marked the Union Day with a speech by junta supremo Snr. Gen Than Shwe.

In his speech, published by the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper he urged, "all the national races to safeguard the national policy — non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of sovereignty."

He also urged "all the national races to make endeavours for building of a new modern developed disciplined-flourishing democratic nation in accordance with the State Constitution massively approved by the people."

Burma's military rulers in May 2008, held a referendum to approve a constitution, which did not include the opposition in its drafting process, and claimed that over 90 per cent of the voters had supported it.

Approving the constitution is part of the junta's seven step roadmap to democracy and the junta is now gearing for a general election slated for 2010.

Meanwhile, security on Thursday remained tight near the head office of the NLD as the party observed the Union Day.

Nyan Win said at least 30 light vehicles such as the Dyna and Hilux, carrying plainclothes security personnel were seen in and around the party office in Rangoon's Bahan Township.

"I am not sure of the exact number but security is tight and a lot of people in plainclothes can be seen on the streets across our office," Nyan Win said.