National League for Democracy

Election Stance

Boycotting

Facts

Founded: 27 September 1988
Founders: Aung San Suu Kyi, Aung Gyi and Tin Oo
Leader: Aung San Suu Kyi
Membership: ?
Website: ?
Basic Principle: To bring about democractic system in Burma, guarantee Human Rights, free market system, equal rights for Ethnic Nationalities and end isolation of Burma from the international community

See here for the NLD Manifesto

Political Prisoners

Aung San Suu Kyi

Latest News

21 Apr 2010 - Human rights issues will be the focus of National League for Democracy (Youth) activities once the party ceases to exist as a legal entity, a party spokesman said

3 Apr 2010 - The National League for Democracy (NLD) Mandalay Division office closed after local authorities applied pressure on the landlord

13 Feb 2010 - Vice-chairman of the National League for Democracy Tin Oo was freed after more than six years in detention

10 Feb 2010 - Aung San Suu Kyi declared that a decision on contesting the general election in Burma cannot be taken till the electoral process is publicized, and that the military-run country's upcoming elections cannot be credible unless the government allows freedom of information.

20-22 Jan 2010 - Win Tin makes first trip out of Rangoon since his arrest in 2008

18 Jan 2010 - The newly enlarged CEC of the NLD held its first meeting and passed a resolution to reconstitute the Central Committee (CC)

11 Jan 2010 - CEC will expand to include nine new members

16 Dec 2009 - Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with three of the party’s aging leaders – Chairman Aung Shwe, Secretary U Lwin and Lun Tin – expansion of the party leadership was discussed

Nov 2009 - NLD members from Pegu and Mandalay divisions sent a joint letter calling for a national conference to debate the issue of the NLD’s role in next year’s election.

Sept 2009 - several members of branch NLD offices in various states and divisions made renewed demands to the Central Executive Committee to convene a General Assembly and urged it to reform the party leadership by reconstituting the Central Committee, most of whose members are under detention or had died.

April 2009 - NLD held the second nation-wide party meeting, attended by representatives of all branches across the country. The first nation-wide meeting was held in 1997, when party leader Aung San Suu Kyi was briefly released from house arrest.

Meeting between ASSK and NLD

April 27, 2004	ASSK met with all the members of the executive committee, including Tin Oo, in her lakeside home in Rangoon to discuss whether to join the National Convention
Nov 9 2007	Suu Kyi met for two and a half hours with four NLD leaders: Chairman Aung Shwe, Secretary Lwin, Nyunt Wai and spokesperson Nyan Win at a government guesthouse to discuss talks between ASSK and junta
Feb. 2, 2009	Suu Kyi was allowed to meet with the NLD executive committee for about 15 minutes at a government guesthouse prior to her meeting with the UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

Background

The NLD is the main opposition party that won a landslide victory in the 1990 elections. After being denied the right to rule, the party has continued its struggle for democracy and right to govern from the Military junta. Since the 1990 elections, the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi have been regarded as leaders of the opposition movement. However many of its leaders have been imprisoned and the party has faced harsh suppression from the government.

A number of elected representatives escaped arrest and formed the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) to carry on the struggle for democracy and freedom. The National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA) was also also set up for exiled members living outside of Burma.

The party was formed in September 1988 within days of the BSPP’s collapse, and was an alliance of the major democratic figures that rose to prominence in 1988: Aung San Suu Kyi, Brigadier Aung Gyi, Former chief of staff Brigadier Tin Oo and other retired army/BSPP politicians. The leadership is also made up of other retired army/BSPP politicians. Within a month its membership swelled to the thousands. By April 1989 the NLD claimed over a million members drawn from cities, towns and villages throughout the country.

On 29 March 2010 the party decided not to register for the elections and was officially dissolved on 6 May. However party members are now engaged in social work and a group of former CEC members led by Dr. Thein Nyein have formed a party called the National Democratic Force to run in the election, despite disapproval from Aung San Suu Kyi.

Party Central Executive Committee

Chairman	U Aung Shwe
General Secretary	Aung San Suu Kyi
Deputy Chairman	Tin Oo, (General, Retired)
Secretary	Lwin (Col. retired)
Member	Hla Pe
Member	Khin Maung Swe
Member	Lun Tin (Col. retired)
Member	Nyunt Wei
Member	Thakin Soe Myint
Member	Than Tun
Member (joint Chairman)	Win Tin
Nine New CEC Members
New Member	Han Thar Myint
New Member	May Win Myint
New Member	Nyan Win
New Member	Ohn Kyaing
New Member	Dr. Than Nyein
New Member	Thein Nyunt
New Member	Tun Tun Hein
New Member	Win Myint
New Member	Dr. Win Naing

Statements

27 Mar 2010 - Tin Oo, the vice-chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Burma's former army chief, told The Irrawaddy that the army should stay out of politics and that past military coups in Burma have only harmed the country.

25 Mar 2009 - Nyan Win, NLD spokesperson, said the party’s central executive committee (CEC) members urged a visiting US official Steven Blake to begin and step up the pace of talks with the ruling junta.

24 Apr 2010 - Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Thailand's political crisis shows that a constitution drawn up by the military can never deliver stability

7 Apr 2010 - Aung San Suu Kyi says she is pleased with her party's decision not to contest upcoming general elections

6 Apr 2010 - In a statement the NLD said its leaders and the party were sorry it could not bring democracy to the country because of repression by the military government but it will continue its nonviolent struggle.

3 Apr 2010 - NLD leading member Win Tin likened the country's ruling regime to “a political rapist” intent on destroying the party that has led the pro-democracy movement for the past two decades.

23 Mar 2010 - NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi told her lawyers that she is against her party being registered with the Election Commission and running for elections

15 Mar 2010 - Party sources said that Aung Shwe, the 92-year-old chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD), told members of the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) that he supported party re-registration—a move that would involve expelling Suu Kyi because of electoral laws banning parties with members currently in detention.
9 Mar 2010 - Win Tin, senior leader of Burma's main opposition party the National League for Democracy told Mizzima that although Burma's military government has begun issuing laws concerning this year's national election, his party will maintain its stand that the regime must recognize that the NLD won Burma's last election and uphold the Shwegondaing Declaration.

Party Developments

18 Jan 2010	The newly enlarged CEC of the NLD held its first meeting and passed a resolution to reconstitute the Central Committee (CC)
14 Jan 2010	The NLD announced the addition of nine new members to its Central Executive Committee (CEC) to allow younger members and new blood to be introduced within the party’s principle policy organ
16 Dec 2009	ASSK called for party reform and a restructure of the party leadership to include younger members in the CEC which has not changed since 1990.
29 Oct 2009	Party Disciplinary Regulations were re-issued by the NLD Party after 25 organizational committees from NLD Mandalay, Bago (Pegu), and Rangoon gave interviews to exile-based Burmese media groups calling for the convening of an All Burma Party Congress related to the upcoming 2010 Elections, without the consent of the central committee.
26 Oct 2009	Resolution passed in the CEC meeting which was based on suggestions given by party Chairman Aung Shwe
10 July 2009	The opposition National League for Democracy has appointed new spokespersons to respond to questions from the media and to discuss party policy issues.
June 2009	The NLD’s Women’s Affairs Taskforce began supervising the establishment of the women’s groups in the divisions of Rangoon, Mandalay and Tenasserim. So far women’s groups have been established in 22 townships across the country
2 Feb 2009	Aung San Suu Kyi was permitted for the first time to hold talks with members of her party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) together with the UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

Activities

Date	Location	Details
10 May 2010	Rangoon	NLD chairman Tin Oo, Win Tin, Nyan Win, Myint Wai, Soe Myint, Than Tun, Hla Phay, Han Thar Myint, May Win Myint, and Ohn Kyaing attended the meeting at the home of the US American ambassador in Rangoon met US envoy Kurt Campbell
1 Apr 2010		The Committee for Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP) held its meeting at the NLD party headquarters in Shwegondaing, Rangoon and discussed doing social work in cooperation with NLD, ethnic political parties and other allies.
23 Mar 2010		Three NLD leaders––Nyan Win, Tin Oo and Aung Shwe –– filed a lawsuit in an attempt to sue the chairman of the State Peace and Development Council by NLD Chairman Aung Shwe. The statement claimed that the election laws are unfair and one-sided. The NLD pointed to an election law that prohibits its leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, from participating in the general election as she is currently under house arrest, and that the law violates the right of political parties and is counter to the spirit of a democratic system. However, an official at the supreme court reportedly told the NLD leaders that the court does not have the power to handle the case, and returned the documents
16 Mar 2010	Rangoon	A CEC meeting held at the NLD head office in Rangoon Division, Bahan Township was attended by 17 CEC members. It made a request to the SPDC the following day to meet with the party's leader Aung San Suu Kyi
12 Mar 2010		NLD party spokesperson Nyan Win said an estimated 300 National League for Democracy (NLD) branch offices across Burma have reopened, and Aung San Suu Kyi has issued marching orders to local office members
10 Mar 2010		The offices of National League for Democracy (NLD) have been allowed to open around the country wide. The office from Myitkyina, Mo Nyin, Inn Daw in Kachin State, Eleven Township from Northern Shan State, Mhon Ywar, Shwe Bo, Yee Oo, Mandalay, Pegu, Pyay, Paung Ti and Kaw Taung in Thanitaryi Division, Maw La Myaing in Mon State were opened and other offices are open continuing
26 Feb 2010		The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma approved 100 members of the new Central Committee (CC).
24 Feb 2010		Aung San Suu Kyi told her lawyers Nyan Win and Kyi Win who visited her house that she wanted to convey her thanks to party Vice-Chairman Tin Oo for carrying out party duties soon after he was released from house arrest and for the reorganization of the party Central Committee
20-22 Feb 2010		CEC Member Win Tin made a three-day trip to Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin in central Burma he briefed members of the NLD from over 30 townships on the party’s political stand and its decision to expand the CEC and central committee. It was the first time he traveled out of the city since his release in September 2008
10 Feb 2010		Aung San Suu Kyi declared that a decision on contesting the general election in Burma cannot be taken till the electoral process is publicized, and that the military-run country's upcoming elections cannot be credible unless the government allows freedom of information.
9 Feb 2010		Branches of the National League for Democracy from Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions sent seven nominees each and Mon State sent five nominees to be selected as central committee members to the party headquarters in Rangoon
18 Jan 2010		The newly enlarged CEC of the NLD held its first meeting and passed a resolution to reconstitute the Central Committee (CC)
15 Jan 2010		Aung San Suu Kyi had a 25-minute meeting with the SPDC Liaison Minister, Aung Kyi, at her house
14 Jan 2010		The NLD announced the addition of nine new members to its Central Executive Committee (CEC) to allow younger members and new blood to be introduced within the party’s principle policy organ
16 Dec 2009		Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet three senior executives in the NLD ― 92-year-old party chairman Aung Shwe, 88-year-old CEC member Lun Tin and the party's secretary U Lwin for the first time in several years and calls for a reorganization of the party's aging CEC.
4 Nov 2009	Rangoon	Six NLD CEC members meet with a a four-member US delegation, including US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific, Mr. Kurt Campbell and Undersecretary Scott Marciel discussing humanitarian aid, dialogue and sanctions; stressing the need to revise the constitution.
Nov 2009		NLD (Kachin) committee and its members attempted to re-open some of its local township offices as well as recruit new members to promote the party’s interest and image. However, these activities proved to be counterproductive, when a recent NLD Village/Ward level meeting came to an abrupt end when local VPDC authorities intervened. However, NLD Kachin has vowed to continue its activities in line with the Central Executive Committees’ guidelines.
29 Apr 2009		NLD held the second nation-wide party meeting in its history, attended by representatives of all branches across the country. The party issued the Shwe-gon-dine declaration that sets conditions for the NLD's participation in the 2010 general election
Nov 2009		A group led by NLD Rangoon Division Vice-Chairman Dr. Than Nyein, Dr. Than Win and U Hla Thein met with U Khin Maung Tun, Chairman of Election Commission Office.
29 Oct 2009		Party Disciplinary Regulations were re-issued by the NLD Party after 25 organizational committees from NLD Mandalay, Bago (Pegu), and Rangoon gave interviews to exile-based Burmese media groups calling for the convening of an All Burma Party Congress related to the upcoming 2010 Elections, without the consent of the central committee.
26 Oct 2009		Resolution passed in the CEC meeting based on suggestions given by party Chairman Aung Shwe.
20 Oct 2009		NLD hosted United States’ Chargé d’affaires Larry M. Dinger and two American diplomats
9 Oct 2009		Aung San Suu Kyi met deputy heads of the U.S. and Australian missions and the ambassador of Britain, which represented the European Union
7 Oct 2009		Aung San Suu Kyi met with the SPDC Liaison Minister, Aung Kyi
3 Oct 2009		Aung San Suu Kyi met with the SPDC Liaison Minister, Aung Kyi
2 Oct 2009		Yangon divisional court rejected an appeal of Aung San Suu Kyi against her extended house arrest
27 Sept 2009		NLD released a statement during the 21st anniversary of the party demanding the reopening of the functions of its political campaigns, which have been banned by the regime for the last six years.
25 Sept 2009		Aung San Suu Kyi sent a letter to Sr. Gen. Than Shwe stated her desire to work with Western countries and the junta toward the lifting of sanctions and a meeting with senior members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) in order to negotiate an agreement for an end to sanctions.
12 Sept 2009		Win Tin, Senior leader of the NLD, was briefly detained but released later in the day by the Special Branch of the police.
4 Sept 2009		NLD asked the military government for permission to play an active role in organizing political activities across Burma
11 Aug 2009		Aung San Suu Kyi is sentenced by a Yangon district court to three years' prison terms but her terms were immediately commuted to one and a half years' terms which were suspended for carrying out by confinement to her residence according to an order of Than Shwe.
10 Jul 2009		The opposition National League for Democracy has appointed new spokespersons to respond to questions from the media and to discuss party policy issues.
June 2009		NLD’s Women’s Affairs Taskforce has supervised the establishment of the women’s groups in the divisions of Rangoon, Mandalay and Tenasserim
27 May 2009		The NLD, marked the 19th anniversary of its election victory by issuing a statement to the Burmese military government with a list of political demands.
29 Apr 2009		NLD held the second nation-wide party meeting in its history, attended by representatives of all branches across the country. The party issued the Shwe-gon-dine declaration that sets conditions for the NLD's participation in the 2010 general election
19 Mar 2009		NLD sent a letter to the SPDC Chairman requesting permission for a meeting with their leaders in order to facilitate decisions at this crucial juncture in the country’s politics.
19 Feb 2009		Burma’s main opposition party, the NLD, reacted angrily to a joint statement by Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari that appeared to endorse the Burmese junta’s plans for an election in 2010.

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 August 2010 22:41