NLD rejects Burmese junta's referendum and election plan

Maung Dee

February 18, 2008 - The National League for Democracy Burma's main opposition political party today, in an official statement, rejected the junta's referendum and election plans, saying it will not lead to democratic reforms but is just another tactic to prolong military rule in Burma.

NLD spokesperson U Thein Nyunt said, "We do not believe that there will be a free and fair referendum and election, because the junta has a tradition of breaking its promises including its promise on the 1990 election. So, we think this is only a violation of human rights and democracy."

The NLD's statement, read out to Mizzima over telephone, is the first official response on the ruling junta's plan. The junta on February 9 announced that it will hold a referendum in May and followed by a general election in 2010.

Holding a referendum on the draft constitution, which is written without the participation of peoples' representatives, only shows it is not heading for democratic reforms but will shower bigger political and social problems in the country, the statement said.

Besides, holding another election without rectifying the 1990 election results only proves that the junta disregards the peoples' popular desire and will do it again, the statement said.

"The NLD, therefore, does not believe that the ensuing referendum will be justly conducted," added the statement.

"If the government genuinely wants to resolve the political crisis in Burma, they should respect the will of the people and the constitution must reflect the peoples will," Thein Nyunt said.

Burma has been ruled by military dictators for nearly half a century, since general Ne Win seized power in a military coup in 1962. Burma once rich in mineral resources and known as the 'rice bowl' of Southeast Asia has gone through severe economic deterioration under the military dictator's economic mismanagement.

The plummeting economic situation forces a majority of the Burmese people to live under the poverty line. The dire living condition of the people brought hundreds, if not thousands, to march on the streets in September last year, when the junta suddenly hiked fuel prices in August, which hit the people hard.

But, the military regime, which has a tradition of coming down heavily on any anti-government protests, brutally cracked down on the demonstrators led by Buddhist monks, killing at least 31 people and arresting thousands, according to the United Nations.

As a cover up to the crackdown, the junta appointed a liaison officer, Aung Kyi, to mediate between detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and junta supremo Than Shwe. It is being viewed as a move to fool the international community as well as the Burmese people that the junta is kick starting a process of political reform.

However, after the fifth round of talks, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said her discussions with Aung Kyi yielded no hope for the reconciliation process and that she is dissatisfied with the talks.

Not long after the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement, the junta on February 9 declared that it will hold a referendum on the constitution, which took 14 years to lay down the guidelines in a national convention, and to hold election in 2010.

Critics, however, slam the junta's announcement as yet another tactic to prolong its rule in the country.

"In order to aim for democratic reforms, the junta must first respect the peoples' will and reflect them in the constitution," Thein Nyunt said.

Source: Mizzima News