NLD's letter to SLORC

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Here is the unofficial translation of the official letter of the NLD Chairman to the Chairman of SLORC making a complaint on the political haressment especially in Irrawaddy division.  

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NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY
No: (97/B), West ShweGonDine, Bahan Township, Rangoon

Letter No: 014/Org(Slorc)/97
Date:      06/02/97


To

Senior General Than Shwe
State Law and Order Restoration Council
Union of Burma
Rangoon

Subject:  Harsh restrictions upon the National League for Democracy in Irrawaddy Division


1. National League for Democracy is the legally-formed political organisation. With bearing in mind that "political party is the organisation which accepts and practices the genuine multi-party democracy", NLD abide by the democratic principles in non-violent and peaceful manner is implementing for these pricinples.

2. As one of the objectives of the State Law and Order Restoration Council is "Overwhelming of the Law", it becomes a duty for Multi-Party Democracy General Election Commission, as well as the respective echelons of the Law and Order Restoration Councils which were assigned by Slorc itself, to allow and permit the NLD's organising activities in accordance with the law and regulations.

3. However, the legal and lawful organizing activities of the NLD are being resticted. Especially, in Irrawaddy division, respective local authorities are imposing many harsh restrictions upon the activities of NLD within the region. Evidence are reported as follows:

(a)  These following name-mentioned elected NLD MP of 1990 election:
U Win Kyaing from the Bogale township, Conctituency No: (1);
Dr. Sein Myint from the Constituency No: (2) of that township;
U Thar Soe from the Nyaungdone township Constituency No: (2);
U Thaung Yi from the Danubyu township Constituency No: (2);
had to resign from their elected MP list as the local authorities had forced them to do so by using extralegal threats and by all other means. 

The other elected representatives have been similarly forced by all other means and threats to quit from the MP lists. When the MPs did not comply, they were accused for breaking laws. They were tried and sentenced. Under this procedure, Dr. Myo Nyunt of Dedaye township Constituency No.(1) was sentenced under Medicine Act; U Min Swe of Pyapon township Constituency No.(2) was sentenced under 1984 private tution Act; U Hla Myint of Maubin township Constituency No.(2) was sentenced for Disturbance to the Civil Duties and U Sann Myint of Laymyathnar township Constituency No.(2) was sentenced under Video Act respectively. U Tin Aung of  Warkhema township Constituency No.(1)  has also been filed a suit for allegedly violating the Emergency Provisions Act section 5(j). These actions should not be done and happened.  These actions clearly indicate that Law and Judiciary procedure in Burma do not match each other.

(b)  The travelling movement of the NLD members also are restricted by written or oral orders. The authorities restrict the NLD members not to travel beyond the respective township boundries without prior permission from them. By this way, NLD members are treated like criminals and law-breakers.

The written order of restriction on the travelling movement of NLD members were given Maubin and Mawlamyainggyun townships, however,only the oral orders were given in Phyapon, Bogale, Dedaye, Einme, Laputta, Myaungmya, Pantanaw, Danupyu, Hinzada, Myanaung and Kyongpyaw townships. Though NLD asked the written orders, no written orders were given. When NLD members did not comply these oral orders, since it was not written, they were accused of "Opposing the State" and punished with arbitrary decrees. These actions totally should not be taken place. It is a violation of human rights by restriction upon the travelling movement even on the travelling relating personal, economy, health, social and religious affairs. 

(c)  On December 30, 1996, Ko Than Htut, In-Charge of the NLD-Youth of Danuphyu Township Organising Committee was sentenced to stay only within the township for one year under the 1961 Restriction and Bond Act for the Persons Who Used to Commit the Crime. Such action taken to the members of NLD as criminals and distitute persons should not be conducted from either point of human dignity or legality.

(d) when the authorities summoned and met the authorties, the members of the NLD township organising committees and divisional organising committee did not have the rights to explain but were forcily told the one- sided accusations. The members had to listen their saying. To make this thing into account, the following incident is the example. 

At about 1am on January 26, 1997, local authorities from the Myaungmya township came to the TAWWIN Guesthouse where U Hla Pe, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the NLD and also the Chairman of the NLD Divisional Organising Committee of the Irrawaddy Division and U Zay Ya, Chairman of the NLD Township Organising Committee of the Myaungmya were staying. These two were searched and treated in a very rude manner. Their citizen identity cards and the official letters from the NLD headquarters to the branches were also confiscated. 

(e) Again, at about 11am of January 27, 97, they were summoned by the chairman of the township LORC and accused that they came to agitate unrest in the township. Again they were treated in a very rude manner. The two gently explained that the NLD was a legal political organisation fuctioning in accordance with the law and regulations. They further explained that the purpose of their trip was merely to meet the members of the NLD organising committee of the Wakhema township who were summoned by the local court on January 28, 97, but not for agitating unrest.

(f)  However, the chairman refused to accept their reasons. He told them with rude gesture that they could go back to the guesthouse, but they would be summoned again any time if necessary. At 5 pm on the same day, the local authories led by this chair summoned them again. The two were told by the authorities that there was no summon to the members of  NLD organising committee of Wakhema township on January 28, 97 and ordered to go back to Rangoon that night. The authorities also said that all arrangements had been already done for their return. Then, the authorities forcibly made the two to sign a letter of promise to go back. Only after signing on the paper, the confiscated documents and identity cards were returned. They watched until the ship left the harbour to make sure the return of the two. 

(g) In our civilized country, these actions and treatments should not be taken place and should not regarded as the manner of  civilized pople. They are also contrary with both the NLD's stand on "National Reconciliation" and Slorc's stand on "National Reconsolidation".

(h) The attempted meeting and giving support of the chair of Irrawaddy Divisional organising committee to the members who were being charged was not solely political but also social concern with the spirit of family. Banning the meeting and forcing them back clearly express the violation of human rights. 

4. I, Hereby, would like to call upon your immediate instruction to your local authorities to stop their maltreatment and harassment upon the NLD members in the Irrawaddy division.



(Signed)
Chairman
National League for Democracy



Copy: 1) U Hla Pe
         Chairman
         Irrawaddy Division Organisation Committee
      2) Office Copy