Youth from the National League for Democracy (NLD) today initiated a campaign urging people to cast a 'NO' vote in the junta's upcoming constitutional referendum.
As dignitaries gathered in Naypyitaw to commemorate the fight against fascism on the 63rd anniversary of Armed Forces Day, formerly known as Resistance Day, over 20 NLD Youth members expressed their political desire by wearing white, blue and red T-shirts adorned with 'NO' stickers.
"We wore T-shirts decorated with 'Resolutely Oppose' and 'NO' stickers. We also displayed anti-fascist movement flags, sang the national anthem and shouted slogans of 'Release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi' and 'Release political prisoners' as well as 'We don't want a referendum'", a NLD Youth member told Mizzima.
The demonstration, in front of the NLD's Rangoon headquarters, lasted for about one hour.
Though members of the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association and the Special Branch of the Police took photos of the demonstrators, the Youth member said they experienced no harassment. "This is just expressing our desire. The people who witnessed us today will understand our message", the NLD youth added.
In their anti-fascist Resistance Day ceremony the NLD called for the regime to honor their own promises, made in Section 3 of the 1989 Election Law and paragraph 12 of Ordinance 1/90, and convene the Parliament elected in 1990.
Moreover the party demanded the release of all 88 generation students, monks and political prisoners, including Shan NLD Chairman U Khun Tun Oo.
Similarly the party demanded the regime unseal Township NLD offices across the country and permit free political organization and movement. They also appealed for the junta to recognize the registration of all parties that contested the 1990 election.
Over 500 people, including veteran politicians and diplomats from foreign embassies, attended today's NLD function. Following the function, NLD Youth members partook in the Burmese tradition of singing satirical, comical songs - on this occasion using the choruses as a tool to raise awareness of the flaws of the military regime.
