The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the second largest victorious party in Burma and the top winning one in Shan State in the 1990 elections, released a statement on May 3 saying that the party will not re-register to contest the general elections unless its party chairman and other imprisoned leaders are released, according to Sai Lake, the party’s spokesman.

The announcement came after the military junta failed to respond to the party’s petitions, the spokesman said.

The announcement said the party had sent petitions to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) twice (on 21 December 2009 and on 6 February 2010) for meetings with its two imprisoned leaders to discuss the party’s future plans.

“The EC members took a decision not to re-register unless they are allowed to discuss matters with their leaders,” said Sai Lake. “The party’s main contention is the release of all our leaders and then a tripartite dialogue (between the NLD, junta and ethnic nationalities).”

In addition, the junta drawn up 2008 constitution is undemocratic and its recently announced electoral laws are also not all-inclusive, the statement said.

It said that the party leaders were arrested for failing to attend the junta’s second time National Convention (NC), which was held in 2004 to draft guidelines for the new union constitution.   

The party had attended the first time NC, which took place for three years from 1993 to 1996, in the hope of achieving self- determination, ethnic equality and to build a genuine democratic country. However, in reality, things did not turn out as expected. The party therefore decided not to attend the second NC and as a result, its leaders were sentenced to long-terms in prison, said the statement.

Hkun Tun Oo, party leader and elected MP from Hsipaw, is currently serving a 95-year term in Burma’s northernmost town Putao, while general secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin aka Sai Nood is serving an 85 year term in Kalemyo, Sagaing division.

The two were detained along with seven other leaders on 8 and 9 February 2005 on charges of treason, defamation, setting up of illegal organization and violation of the 5/96 Law prohibiting people from criticizing the constitution drafted by its rulers. The draft was “ratified” by an overwhelming 92 per cent of the country’s eligible voters in May 2008, according to a junta announcement.

A few months earlier, the party was warned by Naypyitaw that if it fails to re-register after two months of the electoral laws announcement, it would be no longer be recognized as a political party, said Sai Lake.

Nevertheless, the party will not change its political stand, commitments and activities even though it is to be outlawed. It will also continue to engage in Shan literature and cultural activities, he said.

According to the statement, the party was formed: To build a genuine democratic country, to forge unity with other ethnic nationalities, to demand ethnic equality and to resolve political problems in a peaceful manner.