National League for Democracy party members including vice-chairman Tin Oo came to work at party headquarters in Bahan Township, Rangoon, a day after it was forced to disband, having decided against registering for polls this year over electoral laws considered unjust.
The junta’s Union Election Commission Law rendered the NLD party void from today but about 70 party leaders and members nevertheless came in to the office. Along with Tin Oo, they included central executive committee members Thakin Soe Myint, Than Tun, Win Tin, Hla Pe, Nyunt Wei, Ohn Kyaing, Nyan Win; Rangoon Division Women’s wing chief Dr. May Win Myint; youth leaders; and members from state and division branches.
“People came to the office as we opened it. There are social aid group members, women’s affairs members and Rangoon Division members at the office today,” Win Tin said. “They exchanged news … and discussed political issues”.
“The atmosphere at party head office is as usual, even though it is not as lively or fun as before,” he said.
The organisation continued to keep its party signboard and flag up, according to the wishes of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for at least 14 of the last 20 years. She was convicted last year of illegally harbouring a US visitor who swam uninvited to her lakeside home in Rangoon. The NLD and other opposition groups saw the conviction as another ploy by the junta to restrict the movement of the popular leader ahead of the elections.
“We are NLD party members. Since we are politicians we [will] always have dynamism for the betterment of our country,” a party youth member who attended the office today told Mizzima. “Striving for humanity gives us mental nourishment. But since there is no routine work at the office today, we felt some remorse. That’s all.”
Mizzima contacted at NLD offices in at least 11 townships in states and divisions across Burma and they replied that they also had kept their party flags and signboards in place.
The NLD won Burma’s last election in 1990 by a landslide but was prevented from taking power by the army.
