National League for Democracy urges

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BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
September 16, 2000

National League for Democracy urges government to lift restrictions

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1245 gmt 14 Sep 00


Text of statement issued by the National League for Democracy [NLD] party 
members in Rangoon
on 12th September; broadcast by Burmese opposition radio on 14th September

1. The National League for Democracy [NLD] is legally-standing political 
party. The NLD has the
legality to perform its party organizational activities. It is an 
undeniable fact that there never was an
incident in contravention to the rule of law and disruption of regional 
peace and tranquility wherever
and whenever NLD General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi participate in 
party organizational
activities.

2. The State Peace and Development Council [SPDC] is aware of these true 
facts. Nevertheless, the
SPDC not only illegally prevented Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's official party 
organizational trip to
Kungyangon and Kawhmu with unfounded reasons but also forcibly returned 
them to their homes and
placed all NLD Central Executive Committee members including the chairman 
under house arrest.
The NLD headquarters was also raided late in the night and official 
documents, papers, and office
equipment were unlawfully confiscated. The NLD members strongly condemned 
these actions.
Furthermore, these actions will in no way affect the NLD's official 
standing, its unity and strength, and
public support it enjoys.

3. It is an undeniable fact that the SPDC itself has infringed upon the 
rule of law by these actions.
They will not help the SPDC to lessen the general problems and predicaments 
but rather aggravate
the situation more which will become uncontrollable in the future. 
Furthermore, the SPDC's goal of
building a modern, developed, and democratic nation will not be 
materialized. The peaceful transition
of a political system which occurred as in other civilized countries could 
not be avoided. In fact, the
existence of NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the country has lessened 
political disturbances and
armed conflicts. It not only creates good prospects for strengthening 
national unity but is also a force
to fulfil the wishes of peasants, workers, general populace, and students. 
The NLD members
therefore strongly urged the SPDC to immediately lift the restrictions 
imposed on the NLD leaders
and to reopen the NLD headquarters and allow NLD to perform the functions 
of a legally-standing
political party.