Burmese Language
Opposition parties trade harsh words
The old guard of Burma’s pro-democracy movement has accused the National Democratic Force (NDF) of “defying democratic procedures” as it campaigns for looming elections.
Relations between the NDF and the National League for Democracy (NLD), whose decision not to compete in the 7 November polls forced its dissolution, have steadily soured since the announcement was made to boycott the elections.
The NDF was born out the ashes of the NLD, which is headed by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and includes senior party members who disagreed with the boycott.
A statement released by the NLD yesterday explained the “unanimous decision [announced on 29 March] to not register again as a political party”, citing unfair laws governing the elections, but added:
“However, some members of the NLD who said the [party] was longer in existence as a political party defied democratic procedures by ignoring the unanimous decision and forming the National Democratic Force.”
But NDF leader Khin Maung Swe told DVB that in fact a number of people present at the meeting to determine the NLD’s future failed to object to the boycott “due to our esteem for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s opinion”.
He said that because no objection was voiced, the NLD claimed a unanimous decision had been made. “It wasn’t true the decision was unanimous – in fact there were people who favoured the registration [for elections] but they didn’t get a chance to speak out.”
“There was no voting – it was only a decision favoured by the majority,” he finished.
The NLD statement also pointed to the NDF’s use of the khamauk [bamboo hat] logo made famous by Suu Kyi’s party in the last elections in 1990, which the NLD won by a landslide although the junta refused to hand over power.
The use of the symbol created “confusion…that the NDF is an offshoot of the NLD, and making false impressions that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is their leader”, it said.
“Thus, the NLD is making a clear statement here that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not a leader of the NDF; that the party [NDF] is not a life boat of the NLD and that the bamboo hat logo and symbol of that party has no relevance to the NLD.”
The NDF is fielding 163 candidates for elections next week, while the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the strongest contender, has more than 1,100 candidates.
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I respect Mr KM Swe for his contribution to people and struggle for democracy. But this time he is making mistake after mistake and tragic loss of correct pathway in searching for democracy. How can he trust Than Shwe`s plan of 7-step to disciplined army democracy? How can he believe in one-sided dominance of army in this process and 2008 military`s constitution. The reason for stalemate in political process is due to strategy in dealing with extremely dangerous military Junta. You can not match the wit, dirty methods and weapon of Junta with simple deployment of popular uprising. You need to arm yourselves to match the gun power of army. But civilised nations and NLD does not support the violence. Gandhi- styled passive resistance will never work with this mighty dirty Junta. By putting pressures on the dirty army, now we are reaching the cross road. Than Shwe will work through all methods of dirty murderous twists to win the election and he had made a decision. you can not stop him doing the crimes. But you can block him winning the election using the people power. NLD is now campaigning for BOYCOTT of fake election. If we see no voters in the polling booths, no opposition parties in the election process, Than Shwe will not be able to declare victory out of empty polling booths. This is once in the life time opportunity opened to you and Mr Khin Mg Swe, you miss the point and you are just committing tragic error in pursuit for democracy. You are helping brightening the image og the army in global stage by participating in the fake process. I have to warn you that you will be punished by people for this big mistake; mistake of criticizing NLD and boycott campaign.
There shgould be no row over NLD’s decision or its manifestos.
NDF should be able to stand on its own feet.
Does any one of you expect Daw ASSK’s approval of the act of NDF leaving the shadow of the NLD Khamouk and NDF’s use of it after leaving its parental shadow?
Honesty and integrity are involved in making such a decision in the first place. Or, is politics shameless, as the saying goes?
NDF has no cause for complaint in connection with NLD’s decisions and declarations. They are, and should be, an independent entity.
So, this row is unwaranted.