Rangoon (Mizzima) – Health and education projects will be the focus of an alliance formed today between the Democratic Party (Myanmar) and the National League for Democracy, according to party leaders.

Democratic Party (Myanmar) chairman Thu Wei speaks to reporters outside National League for Democracy headquarters in Rangoon today, November 25, 2010. The parties held talks and agreed to join forces on health and educational projects. Photo: Mizzima

DPM chairman Thu Wei and eight members held the party’s first meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi since her release from house arrest on November 13, at NLD headquarters in Rangoon this morning and agreed to co-operate.

“Our party candidate Nay Phu Ba Swe contested in Tanintharyi [Tenasserim] Division. He explained the situation there to Aung San Suu Kyi after which we then agreed to first implement projects on education and health,” Thu Wei told Mizzima.

“The implementation of this work will start within a week. NLD youths from Tanintharyi Division are now in Rangoon so I think they plan to implement the projects in that division first. Aung San Suu Kyi will contact us again about how to get things started,” he said.

NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing added that: “The exact date for starting this work has not been finalised [but] we’re going to get to work as soon as possible.”

Thu Wei was accompanied by DPM general secretary Than Than Nu and leaders Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, Nay Yee Ba Swe, Aung Nyein, Nay Phu Ba Swe, Hla Htay and Tun Hlaing. Their NLD counterparts present in addition to Suu Kyi included Tin Oo, Nyan Win, Ohn Kyaing.

The meeting’s outcome follows a similar gathering between 12 independent candidates,  who stood in national elections on November 7, and Aung San Suu Kyi on November 19 at which they expressed their willingness to collaborate with the NLD on social work. 

Of the 37 political parties that contested in recent election, the DPM won three seats in the States Divisions Hluttaws (local assemblies), however these wins failed to include Thu Wei, Than Than Nu, or secretariat members Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein and Nay Yee Ba Swe.