Kya-Loon-Htaw - The current situation of Burmese politics is undergoing a process of great change, and the re-registration of the National League for Democracy (NLD) is a good sign, but regarding ethnic issues, ethnic political parties must continue watching to see what will happen, said Nai Tin Aung, Vice President No. 2 of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF).
“As an ethnic person, I opine that Daw Suu will prioritize democracy issue first as she is a Burmese. As ethnic people, we have to be active on both democracy and ethnic issues, so we will watch and see how much the new government acknowledges the ethnic issue,” said Nai Tin Aung.
Even though he supports the purpose of the NLD, Nai Swam Toon, Chairman of the Mon Affairs Union, said that prevailing law and order, amending the 2008 Constitution, and starting a dialogue on ethnic issues and political prisoner issues will not be easy as military opinion is still influencing the new Burmese government led by President Thein Sein.
“While the political leaders of the world are calling for the release of political prisoners via the media, U Thein Sein has said there are no political prisoners in Burma. And then, he said ethnic armed groups will have development following ceasefires, so it means he doesn’t want to amend the constitution or include ethnic armed groups under the constitution. Because of U Thein Sein’s groups having only military opinions, I doubt that when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi participates in Hluttaw [parliament] she will be able to change what she wants to,” said Nai Swam Toon.
Meanwhile, Nai Oak Kar, Secretary of Mon Youth Group of Malaysia, said that it was not appropriate for the NLD to decide to re-register the party just because of a slight change of law by the new government.
“NLD had boycotted the 2008 Constitution before, and called for the release of all political prisoners, with its Shwe-Gone-Taing Declaration. Even though these issues haven’t been resolved, the NLD has decided to re-register just because the new government changed the party registration law a little. I don’t support the NLD’s decision,” said Nai Oak Kar.
Nai Oak Kar continued that if the NLD wishes to continue its stance democratically, it should discuss its plans with ethnic armed groups first, as if only the issue of democracy is taken into account regardless of ethnic issues, domestic affairs will continue to have severe problems.
The NLD’s Shwe-Gone-Taing Declaration, released on 29 April 2009, called for the release all political prisoners, reassessment and amendment to the 2008 Constitution, and steps to ensure tranquility amongst all ethnic people, as well as acknowledgement of the results of the 1990 general elections.
On 18 November, the decision to re-register the NLD as an official political party was made by the party’s central executive committee members.
