What’s the NLD Strategy for 2010 Election?

By SAW YAN NAING

Activists and dissidents inside and outside Burma know the military regime is committed to retain power. The question is: What’s next for the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD)?

Khin Htun, a former NLD member in Rangoon and one of the youth members who resigned from the main opposition party this month, said the Burmese people are waiting to be informed on what the NLD plans to do in the 2010 general election.

More than 100 NLD youth members resigned in mass on October 16 in Rangoon, complaining that they weren’t allowed to participate in decision-making.

Khin Htun said the NLD leadership should be conducting a dialogue with ethnic leaders and members of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP) to brainstorm strategy to approach the 2010 election.

Some NLD critics believe the group’s leaders are waiting to hear from Aung San Suu Kyi, the titular head of the party who has been under house arrest since 2003.

One ethnic Chin leader, Htaung Kho Thang, a member of the CRPP and the United Nationalities League for Democracy, said he believed the current NLD leaders are not interested in a dialogue with ethnic leaders. Ethnic leaders are ready to talk if approached, he said.

Meanwhile, Thakin Chan Htun, a veteran Burmese politician in Rangoon, called for a free and fair general election in 2010, while saying that Suu Kyi must be allowed to participate.

In addition, he called for the release of all political prisoners. He said all citizens should be allowed to vote in the multi-party election and the international community—including UN representatives, foreign observers and journalists—should be allowed to freely report on the election, he said.

If the 2010 election is held, and is free and fair, then the NLD should consider how it wants to take part in the election, he said.

Nyo Ohn Myint, a leading Burmese dissident in exile, said he was opposed to the NLD fielding candidates in the election because it would be seen as legitimizing the constitution and the election process.

NLD leaders have repeatedly issued statements calling the constitution process unfair, but cited their willingness to negotiate with the regime if it accepts a constitutional review process.

The NLD spokesperson, Nyan Win, said, “If we have a chance to talk with the regime, we will hold bilateral negotiations and go on based on the agreement. Our idea is for ‘democratic reform.’ We willingly want to negotiate with them.”

The chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy and secretary of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament, Aye Thar Aung, said he remained hopeful the NLD could establish a credible strategy for the election.

Asked about the NLD strategy, Nyan Win said the NLD will keep its plan secret for now. Meanwhile, the military regime has already conducted campaign trips to various cities to rally support from citizens and ethnic ceasefire groups.

Several ethnic cease-fire groups are expected to create proxy political parties and field candidates in the election.