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Translation of NLD Statement 172 (1



Subject: Translation of NLD Statement 172 (12/99)

National League for Democracy
NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon


NLD Statement 172 (12/99)


1. The Sagaing Division, Mawlaik Township Election Commission invited NLD 
members U Tin Maung Win, U Pe Tin, and U Myint Thein to attend the township 
SPDC chairman's office on 17.12.99 where Notification 1 issued by its 
department was handed and read out to them. This notification declared that 
as per instructions from head office, the Mawlaik NLD branch was deemed to 
be automatically dissolved on 16April 1991 because its membership had 
dwindled to three and that it had no right to continue operations.  They 
were told to remove the signboard and that any further activities would 
attract penalties.


2.  The response given by the said members was
- that the Election Commission's authority had terminated after the
holding of the elections;
- that the NLD had successfully competed in the elections in accordance
with the rules and regulations framed under the Elections Law;
- rules and regulations issued by the commission after the elections had
no force of law and the NLD was not obliged to adhere to them.
- the notification issued on 26 April 1991 was a retrospective law and
therefore not binding.

No subsequent notification can override the definitions given in the
original Election Law which made no reference to the matter now raised
in the notification.

The Branch had been restructured with 21 members. According to
Regulation 245 of the Commission, internal matters are the sole concern
of the party which had complete authority to frame its own rules and
regulations.  Therefore, no outside authority had power to dissolve it.
The members had no desire to take down their cherished signboard and
should the Commission remove it by force it would be and act of violence
and illegal.


3.  U Myint Thein and U Tin Maung Win were again summoned on 19
September 1999 to the Commission's township office.  Waiting in the
meeting room were the police, a judicial officer, the Military
Intelligence and the officer in charge of the army unit. They were
menacingly given orders to remove the signboard, shut down their office,
hand in all papers, flag and seal.  But the NLD members were adamant and 
refused to comply reiterating that if the authorities used force and
removed or shut down the office it would be totally without their
consent and illegal.


4. The same day (19 September 1999), at about 12:30 mid-day, members of the 
Township Election Commission assisted by the police and military
intelligence violently removed and took away the NLD branch signboard.


5.  Such use of armed strength and bullying tactics is illegal and is
vehemently denounced by us.  We declare that those who are exercising
such illegal tactics will be responsible for the consequences of their
actions.


Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
Rangoon


9th December 1999.

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