The Manifesto
of the
National League for Democracy
on Multi-Party Democracy General Election
1. Throughout the
Union of Burma in 1988 there was an extraordinary and unprecedented uprising of
all people. They rose up to demand
Democracy. Thus, a democratic state was
established in order to be liberated from the bitter experience of the society.
2. Now, a chance to
establish a democratic system began to emerge that would totally change
society. Hence, all the people of
3. The National
League for Democracy firmly believes that, today, in
4. The National League
for Democracy clearly understands that all the people of
5. In order to bring
about the aims and aspirations of the people successfully, the National League
for Democracy, consisting of people wishing to represent farmers, workers,
merchants and entrepreneurs, students, youths, women, technicians,
academicians, artists and ethnic nationalities, shall let their members
participate in this multi-party General Election and pledges to accept the
decision of the people.
6. The National
League for Democracy, while declaring its principles and policy below, shall
accept the wishes of the people and establish a democratic state as desired by
the people.
Political
7. As the Union of
Burma is a member of United Nations, we shall practice the democratic rules of
conduct as stated in the United Nations Charter. With a firm principle that,
not only we, but our future generations also, will never lose democratic
rights. We must firmly lay down
the democratic foundation.
(a) The
power of a state must be derived from the people.
(b)
Totalitarianism and other political systems that oppress the people must never
be allowed to flourish.
(c) In
establishing state power through multi-party general elections, every adult
citizen must have the right to vote and to elect their representatives in
accordance with the basic principle of democracy.
(d) We believe
that for political parties, apart from working diligently for the country, must
also take up responsibility of being a political nurturing ground. A political party must sow the seeds and
nurture seedlings, cultivating leaders for future generations. They must also act as a bridge connecting the
public at large to the Executive and Legislative branches of the stand, and to
be a tool with the ability to limit the unjust abuse of power by any
authoritative persons or organizations.
(e) Free
and fair elections, which are the cornerstones of a democratic state, create a
base rooted in democracy in which the social life of all the
nation's people can develop. The people,
who are the primary owners of state power, must have discipline and must not
violate the interests of others.
According to the rule of law, every citizen must be free to fully enjoy
his basic rights such as, freedom of belief, freedom of worship, freedom of
speech, freedom to organize and freedom to earn a living.
(f) The
constitution shall distinctly guaranteed basic human rights. Laws shall be adopted allowing one to sue any
person for violating human rights under the constitution or specified act.
8. According to the
will of the people the "Pyithu Hluttaw" has emerged and been established
in accordance with the law. The
sovereign power of this "Hluttaw" is ablsolute.
9. The sovereign
power of "Pyithu Hluttaw" shall be practiced without reservation, in
accordance with the following principles:
(a) There
are three independent sectors, i.e., the Legislative, Executive and
Judiciary. Each sector must exist
independently without interfering with one another.
(b) In
working to enact, amend or abolish any laws, it must be independent and in
conformity with humanitarianism, having justice and equality.
(c) The
administrative machine must not be an apparatus to oppress the people. It must be a machine with the ability to
manage and safeguard the interests of the people.
(d) Every
citizen shall be equal before the law, irrespective of national or social
origin, religion, social status, political opinion, language, sex, age, colour or race and no infringement shall be made of those
basic human rights. For example:
(i) The judiciary branch of the government, which must
protect basic rights as guaranteed by the constitution, must have standing
equal to that of the Legislative and Executive branch of the government and
must be independent of them.
(ii) The
Supreme Court must have independence from and absolute authority over all other
judicial courts under its jurisdiction.
(iii) The
adjudication process must be made public.
The accused must have full rights with which to defend himself in accordance with the law.
(iv) All judges
must have the right to adjudicate independently. There must be no external intervention.
Foreign Affairs
10. To adopt
independent foreign policy in international relations.
(a) Any
state must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other
states. They must have policies of
non-aggression, non-intervention, equality, mutual benefits and peaceful
co-existence, which are the Five Points Principle of the Peaceful Co-existence
of States laid down at the Bandung Conference (
(b) To
avoid isolationism and be in an active position to stand firmly for on its
principles regarding world affairs.
(c) To
actively participate in any international organizations having the same aims
and objectives, and to co-operate particularly with regional organizations and
projects with regional interest and the interest in the country.
(d) Shall
have firm and close relations with the United Nations, World Bank, IMF ... etc.
National Defense
11. (a) The army is born from the people. The army must respect and abide by the
constitution of the state. It must stand
with the people and must be an institution the people can depend on. The army must be free from party politics and
loved by the people.
(b)
Strategically, a modern army must be established in accordance with the
geographical location of the Union of Burma.
(c)
Suitable arrangements are to be made for fallen military personnel and their
families, as well as war veterans and their families.
Economy
12. The National
League for Democracy believes that the Party that takes responsibility of the
new government elected by "Pyithu Hluttaw" will not be able to foresee
the financial problems it will have to face.
But for the moment, emphasis should be made for short-term economic
development. Thus:
(a) Shall
give priority for the stability of prices, finance, and jobs, and to work to
insure people have confidence in the domestic currency;
(b) To lay
down suitable policies for finance and currency, and manage the government's
budget properly;
(c) To
revise the exchange rates between Burmese currency and foreign currencies and
change it as deemed necessary.
(d)
Priority shall be given to the import of goods that will benefit energy refill
fuels, transport vehicles and for the falling of prices.
(e) In
exports, to encourage goods of various kinds, to be exported as much as
possible.
(f) To
revise and amend foreign investment laws for setting multiple increases in
foreign investment.
(g) To
strive for the reduction of foreign debts and to once again receive foreign
aid.
(h) To
revise the laws, circulate orders, rules and regulations and the management
system, that restricted economic enterprises, and some
will be amended, and some are to be abolished, as seemed fit.
(i) The present various types of revenue system shall be
revised and amended to benefit the private enterprises.
(j) Various
enterprises of economic sector must completely base itself on the market
economy. Special encouragement shall be
made for a quick development of private enterprises.
(k) To
encourage tourist industry for further development and smooth running.
Enterprises concerning industry, energy, construction,
mines and the service industry
13. (a) The nationalized economic enterprises
that are included in all the above sectors of economy, shall be given back to
their original owners respectively and for those enterprises whose original
owners can no longer take responsibity for them, the
state shall try and get the economic expertise and financial investment to
continue to run the business.
(b) The
business enterprises will not be nationalized.
There will be no demonetizations of currency.
(c) The
productions and sales of minerals and gems Act shall be prescribed. Permit for joint-venture enterprises and
private enterprises shall be granted.
(d) With
the exception of some enterprises, if immediately abandoned, could cause
devastation to domestic economy and increase unemployment shall be retained, the remaining nationalized enterprises shall be
abolished and privatized. For the
nationalized factories and industries, that cannot be immediately abolished or
privatized, reform work shall be made with respect to investment and
constitution in accordance with situation of present era. Unnecessary expense shall be strictly
prohibited.
(e) To work
toward deferring external debt that must be repaid and to get international
financial aid once again to reconstruct the country.
(f) Shall
allow foreign investment that will benefit the development of the country's
economy, according to the principles of a market economy.
(g) The
state shall take responsibility for all the currency that is legally printed
and distributed so that the people may have total confidence in the currency.
(h) Shall
strive for the widespread use of modern technology and technical know how, in
construction of a new state with respect to education sector for the new
generation, trade and commerce sector, as well as mass education and other
agriculture-dependant enterprises.
Transport and
Communication
14. (a) Reform shall
be made, concerning transport and communication, as much as possible, in order
to allow for a smooth flowing of goods.
This will be done in the hopes that prices will then fall.
(b) The
work on roads, transport and communication shall be extended for the regions
that are still politically, economically and socially backward.
(c) The
necessary reform work shall be extended to provide smooth and fast
communication.
(d)
Joint-Venture aviation enterprises shall be established with foreign companies.
Farming
15. The following farming
policies shall be implemented for the economic development in this sector.
(a) Every
farmer, working for farming has right to own land and to transfer it and to
prevent the revival of feudal system by law.
(b) The
minimum prices for farming products, on one hand, must cover the basic
production cost and the cost of living for farmers, and on the other hand, the
domestic prices of the farming products shall have to be adjusted with the
international market price.
(c) Farmers
shall be given the right to cultivate, to store their farming products, to
grind their seeds and to sell and transport their goods.
(d)
Considering the economic situation, the agriculture bank system that shall give
long and short-term loans to farmers for reforming their lands and other
expense of land management shall be extended.
(e)
Considering the economic situation, all possible arrangements shall be made for
farmers to get enough fertilizers.
(f) Aid and
encouragement will be provided for easy access to high-yield seed varieties and
their cultivation.
(g) With a
well adjusted budget, arrangement must be made for the farmers to obtain enough
chemical fertilizers.
(h)
Considering the economic situation, priority shall be given to the production
of mechanical accessories for agriculture and technology concerning industrial
farming.
(i) The farming industry shall not be restricted only to the
production of paddy and industrial raw materials. The farming industry will encourage farmers
to alter their farming system by growing other grain crops that yield more
foreign currency.
(j) Permits
for extending cultivated land or virgin soil to the private farming industry
for long-term plantation purposes shall be granted.
(k) In
looking forward to the progress of modern agricultural technicians, for raising
the standard of their skill, they will be encouraged to acquire more knowledge.
(l) The
Land nationalization Act, Rent for the Cultivation of Land Act and the
Protection of Farmers Rights Act shall be revised.
Forestry
16. For the
development of forestry in
(a) The
state shall make a special plan to reserve the forests and protect the
environment to prevent deforestation.
(b) A
systematic plan shall be made to let the people use timbers and other forest
products for their household needs.
(c)
Systematic management of the extraction of teak and other basic hard wood
timbers will be established. Provisions
for selling these forest products abroad will be established after consulting
with experts.
(d) The
policies for plantation, production and sale of hard wood for domestic use,
other forest products and timber for industrial raw materials shall be revised
and extended.
(e)
Expansion and review of cultivation and timber distribution practices for
domestic and industrial use.
(f) Contact
shall be made with foreign organizations or institutions to obtain machinery,
spare parts, accessories and advanced scientific technology.
(g) Rules
and regulations shall be laid down for entrepreneurs and working people who
rely on the forests and forest products, to let them use the forest on a small
scale.
(h)
Arrangements will be made to allow privately owned saw mills to produce
finished goods from forest products.
They will be given the right to distribute and sell these products both
inside and outside the country according to the law that shall be adopted.
Fishery
17. For the
development of the fishing industry, for the nourishment of the people, to
prevent the extinction of fish, near and far from seacoast, and for preserving
the fishery profession, the following work shall be done.
(a) Steps
shall be taken to encourage private enterprises to extend domestic fish and
livestock breeding.
(b) Priority
shall be granted to private enterprises for all fishing business near and far
from the seacoast. Regarding the work
that private enterprises cannot do, state co-operatives and joint venture
system shall be established.
(c) The NLD
shall negotiate with the international bodies to get the necessary technical
aid to produce finished fishery goods and to export the goods abroad.
(d) The
production of tin provisions, the work to receive technology for producing high
quality goods, and the use of up to date ships for coastal fishing shall be
encouraged.
Education
18 (a) In basic
education, compulsory education system up to the primary level and free tuition
education system shall be implemented stage by stage, in accordance with the
prevailing circumstances.
(b) To
separate the teaching of vocational education from high tech education.
(c) In
order to modernize the country in each and every respective sector, and for
raising the standard of universities and colleges, more state scholars shall be
sent abroad. Expertise from abroad shall
be invited.
(d) The
co-ordination of teachers, parents and students shall be practiced, beginning
from basic education up to university, in compliance with the principles of
education laid down by the state.
Health
19 (a) Plan
shall be made principally for public health, especially geared toward
prevention as deemed necessary.
(b) Special
attention shall be given for government hospitals to receive sufficient
medicine to treat diseases.
(c) To
assure government hospitals, currently being degenerated in every aspect, to
become well equipped.
(d)
Permission shall also be granted to open private clinics for the public in
accordance with the law.
(e) Shall
encourage private health insurance enterprises.
(f) The state
shall encourage athletics and physical fitness for the public and give
necessary training to athletes, so that they may be able to participate in
international games and tournaments with high standard.
(g) The
state shall contact and co-operate with international health organizations and
foreign experts to obtain the latest medical technology.
Social Welfare
20. (a) The state
shall pay special attention to take care of orphans, delinquent minors and
abandoned children. The government will
give them education and create vocational opportunities for them.
(b) The
government and private donors shall make a joint effort to care for the
elderly.
(c)
Regarding the care of women, the government shall give support as deemed
necessary.
(d) The
government shall co-operate and work together with private donors for the
welfare of the public.
Culture
21. (a) to maintain
and foster national culture and traditions.
(b) To co-operate with and participate in international
cultural exchange programs.
Ethnic Nationalities
22. Equal rights
must be enjoyed by all ethnic nationalities.
In addition:
(a) All
ethnic nationalities shall look forward to unity, solidarity, peace and
progress of the
(b) The
state shall work towards the principle of equal rights for all the
nationalities. Based on this principle,
no special privileges, hindrances or restrictions shall be placed upon the
ethnic nationalities preventing them from enjoying equal rights and privileges.
(c) Shall
strive to all assure that all the ethnic nationalities have the right to
self-determination with respect to all fields such as politics, administration
and economic management, in accordance with the law.
(d) Before
the establishment of a new constitution, as an interim program, the "Pyi Thu Hluttaw" shall prescribe law and form the
authoritative body for the presently existing states.
(e) Shall
look forward to all nationalities joining hands to work together. They will co-operate by helping and
supporting each other for the benefit of the development of the entire
(f) Upon
successful establishment of a democratic system, after having firmly laid down
the foundation of a democratic society, a national co-ordination convention,
similar to that of the Pinlon Conference, shall be
convened. This convention shall firmly
lay down the future guiding principles of the
(g) All
ethnic nationalities have the right to maintain and develop their languages,
literature, culture and traditions.
(h) Ethnic
nationalities shall work together to consolidate the sovereignty of the Union
of Burma, and work to develop all aspects of the country such as its political
and social structure, its economy, education system, health services and
regional development.
Ending to Armed Struggle
23 Based on the principle that sovereignty of the Union of
Burma must be consolidated, the unity of all the
ethnic nationalities should be established so democracy can flourish. In the future democracy all ethnic
nationalities will enjoy equal political, economic and social rights, and will
be able to participate in reconstruction of the deteriorating situation in the
country. The armed struggle that has
been carrying on unceasingly for more than forty years must be stopped by
resolving the problems through political means.
24. For promoting
productions and raising the living standards of both formers and workers, and
for cultivating the lives of youths and students to develop physically,
mentally and culturally, the following means to organize themselves shall be
encouraged:-
(a)
Farmers; The forming of a Farmer's
(b) Workers
and servicemen; Labour for workers and servicemen should be organised. It is necessary to form this union in
accordance with the rules as prescribed be the Convention of International
Labour Unions. The
(2) The
technicians and intelligentsia shall be appointed at the national level,
according to the requirements of the state.
Workers shall be allowed to work in foreign countries as long as they
abide by certain conditions.
(3)
Reconsideration shall be made for the aggrieved servicemen or for various other
reasons.
(4) The
resolution of conflicts between entrepreneurs and workers must be fair and in
accordance with the law.
(c) People
working in the trade and commerce sector, from industrial entrepreneurs, import
and export enterprises, land and water transport to college industrial unions,
traders, brokers, shop keepers, small scale vendors, including slow running vehicle
drivers, shall be encouraged to organise themselves
systematically in order to actively participate in trade and commerce. This will raise their standard of living and
develop the country.
(d) Youth
and Students
(1) For any
country, youths, especially students, are the most
precious human resource for the future destiny of the country. We shall cultivate them and raise them by
giving them modern education, and the tools to form a new country.
(2) They
shall be permitted to form a consolidated student union that will prepare them
for national politics.
(3) This
single, consolidated student union shall be a symbol of national unity.
(e)
Women
(1) In
serving the country in the fields of administration, economics and social work,
women must have equal rights and share responsibility of official duties. They must also hold the same rank as men.
(2)
Pregnant women are entitled to state-provided health care. By law, working women are entitled to
"maternity leave" during the delivery period.
Conclusion
25. We are determined to build a successful Union
of Burma in the midst of the family of nations, having sovereignty and
territorial integrity and equality among nations. The people must be prosperous and free from
danger and fear, in accordance with their aspirations.
26. In so doing, we earnestly believe that the
support, encouragement, criticism, advice, mutual help and coordination of the
people are the main means by which to reach our objective aims.
"Democracy must surely win."
National League for Democracy