New Delhi (Mizzima) – At this crucial juncture, where the future of the party is uncertain, the National League for Democracy (NLD) on March 17 sought the military junta’s permission for a meeting between its General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi and the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).

The junta’s harsh and vindictive electoral laws makes it mandatory for Aung San Suu Kyi and other imprisoned party members to be expelled should the NLD want to register with the Election Commission and contest, putting it in a Catch 22 situation.

A CEC meeting held yesterday at the NLD head office in Rangoon Division, Bahan Township was attended by 17 CEC members. It disclosed the request made to the junta.

"Today we released the letter sent to the junta on March 17. We requested a meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi given the situation is crucial for the party," CEC member Ohn Kyaing told Mizzima.

Similar requests by the NLD in the past were not heeded by the Burmese authorities.

The letter requests a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi by old members of the 20-member CEC. The old members of the CEC are Aung Shwe, Tin Oo, Win Tin, Khin Maung Swe, Lun Tin, U Lwin, Than Tun, Thakin Soe Myint, Hla Pe and Nyunt Wei.

The day’s meeting was attended by CEC members except U Lwin and Lun Tin, who are ailing and Aung San Suu Kyi who is under house arrest.

The junta announced electoral laws for the 2010 general elections in the second week of March and said that political parties must register with the Election Commission within 60 days as of March 19.

NLD will hold a meeting of the CEC and 100-members of the Central Committee (CC) which represents all States and Divisions party branches, on March 29 to discuss electoral issues, especially  whether the party should contest.

"We shall hear the deliberations at the CC meeting. And then we will take a decision after hearing the deliberations by the States and Divisions party branches," Ohn Kyaing said.