NLD leaders vow to pursue democracy cause after release

DVB ( 26 November 2003 )

Recently released five top NLD members said that they would pursue their pro-democracy cause even if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains in detention.

U Soe Myint, U Hla Pe, Nyunt Wai, Than Tun, and Soe Myint were released on 23 November by Burma’s military junta, the SPDC. U Loon Tin was set free by the military government the following day. They vowed to continue the struggle despite the closures of all NLD offices after May 30 Dipeyin incident which triggered a crackdown on the NLD.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all eight members of her party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) were detained after the incident. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Aung Shwe and U Lwin are still under house arrest, while U Tin Oo is in Kale Prison in upper Burma.

The released members said that they were still deliberating how to respond to the SPDC’s road map plan which includes a plan for free elections under a new constitution.

The NLD has always demanded talks and discussions on a basis of equality and as free persons. The party won 1990 elections in a landslide but has never been allowed to rule.

The five had asked for permission to see Aung San Suu Kyi but the regime had denied the request, and they did not have any idea when she might be freed.

The United Nation human rights envoy to Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, earlier this month demanded the junta release some 1,300 political prisoners, particularly the elderly and infirm. He said that 153 people had been put under detention in the wake of the unrest and 27 of them remained in jail.

Political observers inside Burma said that the release of the five do not necessarily indicate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would shortly be set free.