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THE NLD HOSTAGES
Here are some more figures and updates on the guesthousing of NLD MPs-elect
and NLD party officials, "resignations" of NLD members and closure of NLD
branches, followed by statements by SPDC and NLD:
GEOGRAPHICAL BREAKDOWN OF ELECTED NLD MPS GUESTHOUSED FROM SEPTEMBER 1998
GUESTHOUSED 1998 ELECTED 1990
Rangoon Division 29 59
Sagaing Division 28 53
Pegu Division 25 48
Magwe Division 23 39
Irrawaddy Division 23 49
Mandalay Division 22 55
Shan State 18 22
Mon State 11 17
Tenasserim Division 6 13
Arakan State 3 8
Karen State 4 10
Kachin State 1 14
Chin 0 3
Karenni State 0 4
Sources: The Democracy Movement gives a total of 193 MPs-elect guesthoused,
from which the above breakdown was taken. Lt Col Hla Min, SPDC Spokesman,
in his press conference of 23 November (see below), said that "arrangements
were made for NLD party members and elected representatives from various
constituencies to take up temporary residence at State Guest Houses in
their respective areas from the 6th of September onwards. A total of 200
NLD Representatives and 651 party members were included in these
arrangements".
Apart from the MPs who have died, are in exile, in prison (this could be
50+), those who have "resigned" and those who are well-known
internationally, it seems that the SPDC has tried to grab more or less all
the others. Some are said to have been released. It will be interesting to
find out how many if any have been released without "resigning".
***********************
GEOGRAPHICAL BREAKDOWN OF NLD ORGANISING COMMITTEE MEMBERS GUESTHOUSED FROM
SEPTEMBER 1998.
Rangoon Division 345
Mon State 122
Mandalay Division 56
Pegu Division 47
Irrawaddy Division 43
Magwe Division 13
Sagaing Division 10
Kachin State 8
Shan State 7
Karen State 3
Tenasserim Division 2
Arakan State 0
Chin State 0
Karenni State 0
NB the high numbers from Rangoon Division and Mon State.
Sources: as above.
*************************
LIST OF NLD BRANCH OFFICES REPORTED CLOSED
(October-December 1998)
16 October 1998 Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State
24 October 1998 Seikkyi Kanaungto Township, Yangon Division
27 October 1998 Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State
27 October 1998 Sittwe Township, Rakhine State
28 October 1998. Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State
9 November 1998 Kya-in Seikkyi, Karen State
9 November 1998 Bilin Township, Southern Mon State
11 November 1998 Kyauktaw Township Rakhine State
11 November 1998 Minbya Township, Rakhine State
14 November 1998 Ann Township, Rakhine State
15 November 1998 Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State
15 November 1998 Myaybon Township, Rakhine State
16 November 1998 Mongkhat Township, Eastern Shan State
17 November 1998 Pyapon Township, Irrawaddy Division
18 November 1998 Thanatpin Township, Pegu Division
18 November.1998 Paletwa Township, Chin State
18 November 1998 Mong Yang Township, Eastern Shan State
19 November 1998 Shwekyin Township, Pegu Division
20 November 1998 Pauktaw Township, Rakhine State
22 November.1998 Loilem Township, Southern Shan State
21 November 1998 Taunggyi Township, Shan State
21 November 1998 Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Division
22 November 1998 Kyaikto Township, Mon State
22 November 1998 Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State
25 November 1998 Htantabin Township, Pegu Division
25 November 1998 Dala Township, Yangon Division
27 November 1998 Kyunhla Township, Sagaing Division
29 November 1998 Hpakant Township, Kachin State
30 November 1998. Mong Yawng Township, Eastern Shan State
1 December 1998 Matupi Township, Chin State
3 December 1998. Mong Hpyak (Mongphyat) Township,Shan State
5 December 1998 Mong Hsat Township, Eastern Shan State
8 December 1998 Myaungmya Township Irrawaddy Division,
10 December 1998 Mogaung Township, Kachin State
14 December 1998 Tachilek Township, Eastern Shan State
21 December 1998 Shwegyin Township, Pegu Division
25 December 1998 Thayetchaung Township, Tenasserim Division
25 December 1998 Mudon Township, Mon State
27 December 1998 Tavoy Township, Tenasserim Division
27 December 1998 Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Division,
28 December.1998 Kyunzu Township, Tenasserim Division
28 December 1998. Launglon Township, Tenasserim Division
28 December 1998 Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division
31 December 1998. Khamti Township, Sagaing Division
Total 44 (14 January 1999)
The NLD Central Committee says that branches cannot be closed down without
the authorisation of the Party.
GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD OF "RESIGNATIONS" OF NLD OFFICERS AND ORDINARY MEMBERS
Irrawaddy Division 3349
Pegu Division 1715
Sagaing Division 563
Mandalay Division 325
Rangoon Division 282
Shan State 267
Magwe Division 218
Arakan State 111
Mon State 101
Kachin State 94
Chin State 31
Tenasserim Division 48
Karen State 4
Karenni State 0
Total 7108 (reports to Jan 14, 1999)
This total is about 1200 higher than my count when Reuters reported 7168.
This means that the real figure of "resignations" could be well over 8000.
Of these "resignations", the NLD says they are either coerced, forged, or
of non-NLD members.
*****************************
COMMENTS BY THE SPDC AND NLD
THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
Monday, 23 Nov 1998
Current situation on NLD's taking of confrontational course
and its attempts to forcibly convene Hluttaw clarified
YANGON, 22- Nov-A news briefing on the current situation regarding the
National League
for Democracy's collusion with illegal organizations within the country and
certain agencies
abroad to confront the government and authentic follow-up news after the
party's attempt to
forcibly convene the Hluttaw was held at the Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya
Road here at
930 am today.
It was attended by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win,
Deputy Chief of
the Office of the Strategic Studies Deputy Director of the Defence Services
Intelligence
Brig-Gen Kyaw Win and the heads of department of OSS, Ambassadors, Charges
d'Affaires ai
and Military Attaches of foreign embassies here, Resident Representatives
and officials of UN
Agencles here, Patron U Sein Win, President U Sao Kai Hpa and members of
Foreign
Correspondents Club, Director (News, U Hla Tun of the Editor of Myanmar
News Agency
(Internal) U Zaw Min Thein, Chief Editors and editors of the dailies,
officials and guests.
General Staff Officer (Grade I) of OSS Lt-Col Hla Min clarified the current
situation.He said:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press:- At the press conference held on
October 8th, 1998, we
recounted to you how the National League for Democracy, in collusion with
illegal
organizations within the country and certain agencies abroad, tired
forcibly and unlawfully to
convene the Hluttaw.
As you are all aware, the state authorities, in order to prevent a
recurrence of such undesirable confrontations, have made arrangements for
selected NLD party members and elected
representatives to take up temporary residence at State Guest Houses. The
purpose of today's
meeting is to apprise you of the latest developments in regard to this matter
Subsequent to the temporary sequestration of its members; and elected
representatives, the
NLD has been issuing statement after statement, alleging that they''have
been illegally arrested
and are being subjected to severe maltreatment and torture and intense
pressure to quit the
NLD. Today we propose to place before you the true facts of the case.
Convening of the Hluttaw is the prerogative of the State and in the
absence of a
Constitution is not possible. The endeavour of a political party to convene
the Hluttaw on
its own constitutes a contravention of existing laws, and the very
declaration of such intent
may be regarded as an infringement of the law.
It is the bounden duty of the State to prevent such misguided
activities, forestall violent
confrontations and to maintain law and order. Accordingly, arrangements
were made for NLD
party members and elected representatives from various constituencies to
take up temporary
residence at State Guest Houses in their respective areas from the 6th of
September onwards.
A total of 200 NLD Representatives and 651 party members were included in
these
arrangements.
The temporary restraining order represents the utmost leniency on the
part of the
government and is intended to prevent violent confrontations which, should
they occur,
would constitute a serious infraction of the law.
Subsequently (63) NLD Representatives and (321) party members who
undertook not to
participate in such illegal activities were returned to their homes.
In addition, the guests were sent home on two separate occasions,
namely, on October
22nd and again on November 7th to enable them to take care of outstanding
financial
and personal matters and to spend the night with their families.
"Throughout their period of stay at State Guest Houses, the guests
were provided with the
best culinary fare, social arrangements and medical attention. With regard
to medical care,
medical specialists from the Base Military Hospital gave them weekly
medical checkups and
provided them with the necessary treatment and medicines, not only for
their current ailments
but for their medical problems of long standing. In effect they were given
medical treatment
that matched that available at the best private clinics and hospitals of
their own choosing.
Furthermore arrangements were made for correspondence with family
members s and for
the sending of preferred dishes, medicines and personal effects to the
guests by their families.
On ceremonial occasions and in cases of personal bereavement the guests
were urged to
attend and all assistance possible was provided them.
I should now like to touch upon the matter of the voluntary
closing-down of NLD Patty
Headquarters and resignation of NLD Representatives and Patty members of
various
townships from the National League for Democracy. These resignations
reflect their own
decisions and are in no way due to any pressure exerted upon them. Township
NLD party
signboards were dismantled and delivered, together with party seals, to the
National Electoral
Commissions or to NLD Party Headquarters
The Township Party Headquarters that were voluntarily dissolved include
Thanbyu Zayat
Township Party Headquarters, Sittway Township Party Headquarters, Bilin
Township Party
Headquarter, Ponna-gyun Township Party Headquarters, Mrauk-U Township Party
Headquarters, Kyauk-taw Township party Headquarters, Seik-Kyee Khanaung-To
Township
Party Headquarters, Mong-Khat Township Party Headquarters, Phyapon
Township Party
Headquarters, and Thanatpin Township Party Headquarters.
The numbers resigning are as follows:
Than-byu-Zayat Township (16),
Myitkyina Township (44), -
Sittway Township (8),
Waingmaw Township (56),
Bilin Township (21),
Ponnagyun Township (14),
MraukU Township (8),
Day-de-ye Township (20),
Paung Township (38),
Mandalay Township (7),
Kyauk-taw Township (17),
Seik-kyee-Khanaung-to Township (7),
Mong-khat Township (6),
Phyapon Township (41),
Thanatpin Township (956), for a total of (1,259) resignations.
In addition to the above, NLD party members and representatives' from
Monywa Township,
Htantabin Township, Pantanaw Township, Mawlamyaing-gyun Township and
Bogalay Township are in the process of dismantling their party apparatus
and the relevant
statistics regarding their resignations will be announced by the
authorities in due course.
Whether the resignations of NLD party members and Representatives from
the National
League for Democracy were the result of undue pressure or force exerted
upon them
by the authorities may be judged from the recent press conference given by
the representatives
from Bilin and Thanbyu-zayat Townships.
Next, video features on the interviews with members of Thanbyuzayat and
Bilin Township
National League for Democracy were presented. In the video feature, members
of the
Township NLDs said they resigned from NLD out of their own volition and not
under
pressure of any individual or organization since they did not wish to
engage' in party
politics any longer. The NLD members also said the objective condition in
the country was
that the government had been striving for the development of the nation in
all aspects.
Afterwards, Lt-Col Hla Min of OSS and Deputy Minister for Foreign
Affairs U Khin
Maung Win replied to questions asked by local and foreign correspondents,
Ambassadors,
CDAs and officials of the embassies. The news briefing ended at 10.35 am.
_________________________________________________________
****************************
National League for Democracy
No: (97/b) West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon
STATEMENT 115 (12/98)
1. Since September 1998, most of the NLD parliamentarians-elect,
members of organising committees from the States, Divisions, Townships,
Wards, villages and other ordinary members have been illegally arrested
and imprisoned by the military intelligence units. But the newspapers
and the military strategy studies department have deceitfully published
this as " invitation to the state guest house " . The invitees are
given no choice to attend or not to attend, nor can they return to their
homes if and when they so desire. Therefore the truth is that they have
been forcefully and illegally arrested and imprisoned.
2. The department of military studies and local newspapers claim that "
the purpose of so doing is to explain the position of the authorities
regarding the convening of parliament in the absence of any constitution
and to seek their views on the matter. " In fact and in truth what is
happening is that they are being illegally held and pressurised by means
of criminal intimidation to resign from the positions they hold and to
dissolve the township branches in which they are operating. ( Note: At
this point it is relevant to question why the authorities held a
multiparty election in May 1990 in the absence of a constitution.)
Section 3 of the Peoples Parliament Elections Law states that " the
Hluttaw (parliament) must be convened comprising representatives of the
constituencies elected in accordance with the provisions of this law."
We now ask the question--" Is there a lapse of memory or a deliberate
contravention of this law.?" The announcement appearing in the
newspapers regarding the dissolution and resignations of NLD members
bear evidence to the illegal activities and the use of force and
pressure that is being applied to obtain results in keeping with their
unlawful infringements.
3. (a) Being aggrieved by the criminal offences and unlawful methods
employed by the Military Intelligence Services to cause the dissolution
of the branches of the National League for Democracy a direct complaint
has been filed in the Supreme Court on 30 November 1998 under Chapter 4
Section 4(a) of the Judicial Law for necessary action in accordance with
law to be taken against the Chief of the National Intelligence Bureau.
(b) The Judicial law was decreed on 26-9-88 by the previous State Law
and Order Council, presently known as that State Peace and Development
Council.
Section 4(a) of Chapter 4 contains the following provision :--
" The jurisdiction of the supreme Court extends to:
(a) original criminal offences........
(b).............................................
..............................................
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
1 December 1998
*************************
National League for Democracy
No: (97/b) West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon
STATEMENT 125 (12/98)
1. Examples as evidence of the persecution meted out to members of
organising committees and ordinary members of the NLD by the military
intelligence personnel are set out herein and published for all know.
(1)(a) Irrawaddy Division, West Bassein township- Commencing from
2 December, 1998, military intelligence groups combined with ward
authorities called at the homes of NLD members with printed resignation
forms and forcibly obtained signatures from them.
(b) Also, one organising committee member was pressured to destroy
the committee by the sacking of his school teacher wife from her
position and by threatening that the education of their children was in
jeopardy.
(c) One organising committee member against whom action had been
taken under Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency provisions law was
pressured and advised to resign.
(d) However, all the organising committee members have firmly
resisted the pressure and have said that they cannot resign, nor will
they dissolve the committee for which we commend and honour them.
(2)(a) Irrawaddy Division, Danubyu township, Mukon village in Sankin
sub-township. On 10 December 1998, U Tin Ohn, the chairman of the
village administrative unit forced the members of the NLD organising
committee to put their signatures to prepared resignation forms.
(b) By use of force and in the same manner, resignations of NLD
members were obtained from -
(11) Danubyu township, Kyauktaing village tract
(22) villages in the Molamyaing-gyoon township.
(33) Daedaye township, Kyone Kyat Payagyi-Kone village-tract
where U Shwe Lin, the man in authority forced the said
resignations.
(44) Daedaye township, Kyonedachaung village-tract where U
Aye Thoung, the chairman of the administrative unit forced
the said resignations.
(3) In all of the above areas the illegal method and use of coercion and
intimidation was of the same pattern. The form used contained blanks
following the words ' name', ' registration number', 'father's name',
'address' , 'occupation' , which had to filled in. At the bottom, the
following words " I am suffering from ill health and have no inclination
to continue working in the NLD and ask that I be permitted to resign
without reservation from the organisation." had to be written and
signed. (Note-It is not possible for every individual to have been
suffering from ill-health at the same day and the same time.)
(4)(a) Irrawaddy Division, Wakema township, sabayoe village- In this
area, Military Intelligence personnel, members to the police
force, and village authorities together illegally forced resignation
of NLD members.
(b) In Shwelaung sub-township of this township NLD members faced the
threat of having their children expelled from the schools.
(5)(a) Magwe Division, Chauk Township- Here the authorities are
shamelessly enticing resignations from NLD members by promising to hold
special ceremonies for the occasion.
(b) A courageous resolution was taken by the NLD members that
no matter how they are threatened there would be no resignations,
signboards would not be taken down nor would they allow any black mark
to lower their perstige and honour.
(c) Chauk township, Pwintpyu township, Sinpyukyoon township,
Salin township, Say-toke-ta-ya township- NLD parliamentarians-elect in
all of these areas resolved not to resign from their positions or from
membership of the NLD.
(d) Chauk township- Because of rising costs the workers who form
the manistay of this area cannot balance their budget and their living,
health and social welfare conditions are deteriorating.
(c) Our information is that there are others whose moral standards
have deteriorated due to general hardships.
(6). Mon State, Kyaikhto township- In relation to the operation of the
Military Intelligence units on 22 November 1998 to distroy NLD branches
in this area, we publish what happened for all to know.
(a) Every member of the organising committee in this township with
the exception of the joint secretary, is living in fear of the Military
Intelligence.
(b) When the Deputy Chairman of the organising committee was
questioned by the Military intelligence officeres why the Township NLD
Organising Committee was being extinguished he answered that he did not
know. No further questions were asked though he was pressured and the
interrogation was postponed for a video recording arranged for 10
December 1998.
(7) Pressure is being applied by the Military Intelligence units to
force the removal of signboards of NLD organising committee in Mandalay
Division by intimidating the persons concerned.
(8)(a) Sagaing Division, Salingyi township- Between the 5th and the 8th
of December 1998, the District Chairman of the Multi partyn Elections
Commission here summoned the members of the NLD organising committee
members and threatened them as follows:-
"What more can your party do to us? They cannot do anything.
They will not succeed in donig anything"
" We will not urge you to resign or not to resign from your
party. It is still a legitimate party."
" When the party is declared an illegal organisation, action will
be taken against you."
" The penalty will be between 2 to 3 Years"
" The building belonging to the party will be confiscated"
" If you do not listen to our words, you will face difficulties."
" When the task is given, even a father cannot be spared . It is
compelling"
(note- one can assess the mentality of the speaker)
" Give us the figures of your membership. There will be less
work is there are no numbers."
"You are obligated to give us the number (the strength) of you
membership. you will not take the bananas that are offered now, but you
will be there when the stick is applied. No matter what government
is in power, it is compulsory that statistics be given"
" The people will not be behind you always. The people are
opportunists."
" If you resign from the party you have to inform NLD central office
of your resignation yourself."
" Now you can resign individually or en block. The deadline for
resignation is the 8th December 1998.
(b) Those committee members who declared that they will continue
in the NLD have given us this information.
(9)(a) Our respective branches in the wards and village-tracts of
Mandalay Division, Meikthila township have n information about
resignation letters from their areas.
(b) We have been informed about the arrest on 6 September 1998 of
one member of the organising committee from Sagaing township, Manadalay
division. At about 12 midnight, U Myint Thein and U Kyaw Nyein from the
MIS, U Soe Win, Officer in charge of the Police Station, his deputy U
Myo Tin Khaing, Sergeant U Tun Hlaing. U Htay Saung and his troops,
together with the ward administrative chairman U Min Thu, and members U
Maung Lay and U Kan Nyunt, and members of the patrol unit committed the
criminal offence of trespass and damaged and destroyed the
entrance gates and doors, fence, and office buildings of the NLD. They
had no search warrants or arrest for the search that was conducted.
(c) Illegal pressure was applied to NLD members from the villages of
Taungpyonegyi, Luntaung, Sa-lay, and Saedawgyi in the township of
Madayar, Mandalay Division, and they were coerced and forced to resign.
(d) Mandalay Division, Kanma township - NLD members in this township
were made to sign on already prepared forms (example annexed) which had
to be forwarded to the authorities.
(10) Rangoon Division, Thaketa township - The NLD organising committee
members were arrested and kept in detention at Ye-mon military outpost,
Rangoon Division, Hlegu township. Some of the members wrote to the
authorities to release them from this illegal detention. This letter was
intercepted by the MI personnel and the authors of the letter were
falsely accused and as a result, U Zaw Min( Advocate of the Central
Court and Township NLD Secretary) and organising committee member U
Than Htut Shane were sent to the Insein Jail while U Myint Aye and U
Shwe Baw were sent to Ye-Kyi- Aing, MI outpost at Mingaladon. These are
outright illegal actions.
2. The above actions are vehemently condemned and those illegally
arrested must be immediately and unconditionally released.
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
22 December 1998.
_______________________
ANNEXURE
To
Chairman
Township Multiparty General Elections Commission
Kanma Town
Chairman
National League for Democracy
Rangoon
Date........................1998
Subject- Letter giving information of my voluntary resignation from the
party.
I, U/ Daw..............................whose father
is.......................................
aged...................................National Registration number
.................
party registration
number...........................................................
residing
at..........................................................................
............
having no inclination to continue my activities in the National League
for Democracy hereby inform you that I will be voluntarily resigning my
membership with effect
from...............................................
(U/ Daw )
copy
Commanding officer, No (11) MI unit, Padaung
Chairman, Township SPDC , Kanma.
Commanding officer, Township Police Force, Kanma.
Commander, No (11) MI unit, Kanma sub-unit, Kanma
Office copy
ADDENDUM TO STATEMENT 125
1.(a) Three members of the organising committee in Mandalay Division,
Wundwin township were summouned to the township branch of the Multiparty
General Elections Commission and illegally given the following
ultimatum:-
" When the NLD is declared an illegal organisation, you will be sent
to jail"
" You are required to resign from the party now"
(b) Because the respective members failed to resign, they were again
summoned of the 5th and 8th December 1998 and threatened.
(c) One of the three members did not respond to the summons so the
Secretary of the Township administrative authority threatened to issue a
warrant for his arrest.
(d) On 3 December 1998, the chairman of the Township organising
committee who had already resigned, was again threatened by the MIS and
was told that he had to inform the NLD Central office himself of the
resignation. He declined to do so.
(e) Pressure is being applied to NLD members in village-tracts and
wards of the Wundwin township area to resign from the party. They are
being summoned by the authorities and forcefully made to resign by
threats that " when the NLD is declared an illegal organisation, party
members will be imprisoned."
2. The Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy
honours and applauds the members who have resisted and not caved in to
the pressure and illegal methods of the authorities to obtain their
resignations but have been strong in their detemination to abide by the
principles of the party for the attainment of democracy and human
rights.
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
22 December 1998.
**************************
National League for Democracy
No: (97/b) West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon
STATEMENT 128 (12/98) (EXTRACT)
..................
(2) The information we are now receiving is that:
In the wards and villages, groups of civil servants led by the
Military Intelligence personnel, enter every house to question the inmates
about their attitude and relationship with the NLD. Individuals who favour
the NLD and members of the NLD are forced to sign prepared resignation
forms to swell the numbers of resignations. The Law prohibits civil
servants from participating in politics. The authorities should not be a
party to activities which amount to infringement of the law. If civil
servants flout the law, the country will be doomed.
Provisions of law should not be flouted by the people in power. There
are ample examples of country's destruction because of transgressions and
violations of the law by civil servants of the country.
(3) In the townships right now, branches of the NLD are being
destroyed and extinguished, and forced resignations of members are being
carried out by Military Intelligence units unaccompanied by members of the
multi party elections commission branch offices, and other civil servants.
Examples of such activities have been released by us in previous
statements.
(4) These activities are most degrading and and should never never be
indulged in. It is a conspiracy with the most evil intention of preventing
Burma attain democracy.
In the entire country, (States, Divisions, Townships, Wards and
Villages) members of the NLD are being summoned to attend at various
offices and department, or are being visited in their homes and being made
to resign their membership. This is entirely illegal and with criminal
intimidation. There is absolutely no meaning to pronouncing that the rule
of law will be achieved through the Registration of Political Parties.
Those responsible for these activities have brought about shame and
disgrace upon themselves.
The citizens of the Union and the Nationalities have expressed their
great desire for a democratic system of government. We all understand and
are convinced that only if and when that system can be constructed, the
country will obtain freedom from the political, commercial, social
welfare, education, health and other problems it now faces. Therefore, the
National League for Democracy declares that it believes all of them will do
its
utmost with determination and persistence to overturn and overcome
whatever obstructions are placed in the path of achieving democracy and human
rights.
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
28 December 1998