NLD Likely to Say 'No' to Election

Burma's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), is highly likely to decide against registering for the general election this year, as party leaders meet in Rangoon to discuss the issue.

On Monday, nearly 160 party representatives from across the country gathered at the party's Rangoon headquarters to discuss and decide whether to participate in the election or not. Two representatives from 14 states and divisions in the country will hold discussions with the final decision expected later the same day, according to party spokesman Ohn Kyaing.

Members of the detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy gather at Rangoon's headquarters before its central committee meeting on March 29. (Photo: AP)

Several party sources confirmed that the majority is against the party registering under the current conditions. According to the latest information from the meeting, the majority of party leaders representing Rangoon Division have rejected registration.

“Nine voted against, four for, and two abstained for Rangoon Division,” said Aung Myint, a party leader representing Tharrawaddy Township. “ Pegu Township has also voted 'no'.”

Party sources said that 92-year-old party chairman Aung Shwe, who recently voiced support for the party registering and taking part in the election, did not join in the meeting and instead sent a letter stating that he would abide by the majority decision.

“With unity, we will all follow our party leader Aung San Suu Kyi's line against party registration,” said Ohn Kyaing. “I can say that after my informal talks with several party representatives.”

The meeting came six days after the NLD's detained leader Suu Kyi said she was against her party registering under the current “unjust” election law, which prohibits parties from having members who are currently in detention, so a decision to register would force Suu Kyi out of the party.

Although security is heightened with four riot police trucks deployed near the party headquarters, there has been no report of harassment of the NLD leaders by the authorities.

Before the discussion, several party township representatives and party youth leaders declared that they would stand by Suu Kyi's line against registration.

If the NLD fails to register within 60 days of March 8 when the junta's election law was announced, it will cease to exist as a legal entity, according to that law.

Meanwhile, junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe described the election as “the beginning of the process of fostering democracy” in his speech at Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

The NLD won a landslide victory in Burma's last election in 1990, but the results were never honored by the regime. Party leader Suu Kyi is currently serving an 18-month term of house arrest. With her sentence due to expire in November, Suu Kyi cannot be a member of any political party if she is not released before the May 7 deadline for party registration.