National League for Democracy member in Shan state’s Lashio request to publicy commemorate Martyrs’ Day tomorrow has been officially rejected by the authorities.

NLD members in Lashio applied for a permit with the township police in accordance with the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, but the party’s township chairman Htun Shwe said the request was denied.

The group had asked to lay wreaths in front of the Martyrs’ monument on Thursday.

“[The police] rejected our request citing three points: that it wouldn’t be necessary to lay wreaths in the town as the national-level commemoration is only suitable to be held at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum [in Rangoon], the spot we proposed is right by the side of the Pyidaungsu Road so it could annoy people passing by and that the spot we chose was in a crowded area close to the market where a trade expo is usually held,” said Htun Shwe.

“We were rejected from doing what is allowed under the law so we assume this hints that there is no rule of law in the country yet.”

He said the permission should have be granted because the group was not seeking to disturb the peace and had followed legal protocol.

Similar requests to commemorate the holiday have been denied in Prome, Pegu and Naypyidaw.