Kaladan News

Dated: Sunday April 25, 2004

SPDC’s Campaign for National Convention in Northern Arakan

Maungdaw, April 25: SPDC authorities were campaigning in Northern Arakan for its National convention in Northern Arakan to divert the people from supporting pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, according to our correspondent.

On March 14, 2004, at around 11:00 am, a meeting was held in the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) office of Maungdaw town. It was presided by U Shwe Tha, the Chairman of the Township Trading Council Committee, he further added.

Many SPDC authorities including TPDC Chairman and elite from Rakhaing and Rohingya communities were invited to the meeting.

In his speech, he said, " It is not the duty only for army to protect our country from enemies but also duty for public. Once our country was under colonial rule and we had been freed from the slavery. The western world has been trying to enslave our country again in the name of democracy. So, the western world, indirectly inciting the countrymen to support the National League for Democracy (NLD) party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to destroy our peaceful country. She is an agent of the western world in the name of Democracy. Therefore, it is very important to protect our country from the enemies unitedly, said a participant in the meeting, who prefers not to mention his name.

He further said, "As we know, in the name of democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi established a political party named NLD backed by western world to damage our country. When be asked, whether we need to support the NLD party under the circumstances, all the participants unanimously voiced, "We don’t support the NLD party."

He continued, "We need all of your cooperation in all sectors and to restore our traditional peace in our country without western domination.

Finally, the SPDC authority took signatories and thumb impression on blank paper sheets on the ground that participants didn’t support NLD and its western dominant pro-democracy movement. These sheets will be sent to the Western Command Commander, later, said a village Peace and Development Council Chairman who also participated in the meeting.

When asked AFK Jilani, the organizer of NLD in Arakan State said, " It is an artificial National Convention as the two top leaders of NLD Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo and General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have not been released yet. The remaining members of the Central Executive Body will not be making any decisions regarding the National Convention without the participation of the two said leaders. All parties previously involved have been invited for the meeting including members of the opposition NLD. But it hasn’t invited pro-democracy leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is still in detention."

Similarly, on last December 16, 2003, the Tactical Operational Commander of Buthidaung held a meeting at Maungdaw Town and said, " We will never transfer power to the NLD leaders, such as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo as they are all criminals. We are ready to transfer power those who are sincere for the cause of country, have experiences about military affairs and have no involvement in criminal activities."

A politician inside Arakan, who does not wish to be named, said, " We doubt over the SPDC Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt’s seven points road map. We don’t believe that the SPDC sponsored National Convention is a political forum to solve the political problems. They are attempting to marginalize the 1990 election results and increasing arbitrary arrests and extra judicial killings, and repressing the ethnic people since Gen. Khin Nyunt becomes Prime Minister. We have found no further progress in human rights violations in Arakan State, other States and Divisions since then." ##

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