SLORC-NLD: NEW BATTLE-LINE?

[darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx]

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE REPORT THAT THE
SLORC ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS REJECTED THE NLD DECISION TO
REINSTATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND COLLEAGUES? IF TRUE, THIS COULD BE
AN IMPORTANT NEW BATTLE-LINE BETWEEN NLD AND SLORC. 
 
 
An AFP Wire of 16 October stated: 
 
   "A five-member elections commission, handpicked by the junta
to supervise the 1990 general elections, has officially rejected
the NLD's new central executive committee line-up, informed
sources said. The commission acts as a disciplinary body for
existing political parties.
   NLD decided last Tuesday to reinstate Aung San Suu Kyi and
former chairmen Tin Oo and Kyi Maung, who were similarly expelled
in 1991, and declared that it would stand by its decision despite
the elections commission's rejection."
 
(Full text below)
 
 
This is the only report I have seen on the matter. I will remain
sceptical until an official announcement has been made, and the
NLD's reply made public.
 
If anyone has further information, please post it on the net.
 
David Arnott  18/10/05
 .................................................................
 
Full text of wire:
 
   UN human rights official meets Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma
 
 
   RANGOON, Oct 16 (AFP) - United Nations rapporteur Yozo Yokota,
presently in Rangoon to collect information for his next human
rights report on Burma, met with Nobel Peace laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi for the second time Monday.
   The meeting was preceded by a short photo session for
journalists allowed into the compound of her residence before
their closed-door session.
   Members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) including
chairman Aung Shwe and co-vice chairmen Kyi Maung and Tin Oo also
attended the meeting.
   Yokota met with Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time last week.
His earlier attempts to see her while she was under house arrest
had been repeatedly rejected by military authorities here on
grounds that "the time was not opportune."
   Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest was lifted by the Burmese
junta in July.
   The UN envoy met earlier Monday with Lieutenant General Khin
Nyunt, the powerful first secretary of the ruling State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC), following a trip to Kachin and
Shan states in northern and eastern Burma, official sources said.
   No details of the meetings have been released.
   Based on Yokota's earlier reports, the UN had previously
adopted resolutions urging Burma to take appropriate steps to
accelerate the process of the country's transition to democracy.
   It also urged the ruling military to engage in a substantive
dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy leaders,
including representatives of Burma's ethnic minorities, "as a
means of promoting national reconciliation."
   Military authorities here condemned the resolution as an
"ill-disguised attempt" to interfere with Burma's internal
affairs.
   Yokota's visit here coincided with the decision by the NLD to
reinstate Aung San Suu Kyi as its secretary general after it
expelled her in 1991 under pressure from the SLORC.
   A five-member elections commission, handpicked by the junta to
supervise the 1990 general elections, has officially rejected the
NLD's new central executive committee line-up, informed sources
said. The commission acts as a disciplinary body for existing
political parties.
   NLD decided last Tuesday to reinstate Aung San Suu Kyi and
former chairmen Tin Oo and Kyi Maung, who were similarly expelled
in 1991, and declared that it would stand by its decision despite
the elections commission's rejection.
   The three have been assigned new duties: Aung San Suu Kyi to
be in charge of the party's youth and women's affairs, Tin Oo is
responsible for organizational and legal matters and Kyi Maung
for research and foreign relations, party sources said.
   The NLD won in a landslide victory in the 1990 elections but
the ruling military junta ignored the result, insisting that a
new constitution be drafted before power was handed over to the
next constitutionally-elected government.