Burma’s NLD decision to campaign welcomed

Burma’s NLD decision to campaign welcomed
Friday, 18 November 2011 21:24 Myo Thant


Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Burma’s opposition political parties including the National Unity Party [NUP], a former rival of the NLD, welcomed the NLD decision to re-register as a party and contest in the next by-election.

National Democratic Force policy leader Khin Maung Swe Photo: Mizzima

National Democratic Force policy leader Khin Maung Swe. Photo: Mizzima
Khin Maung Swe, the leader of the policy affairs committee of National Democratic Force (NDF), said recently that his party wants to cooperate with the NLD in Parliament.

A former NLD central executive committee member, he said, “We are ready to cooperate. All we need is that they want to work together, too. If they want to cooperate with us, there is no reason we should refuse. Whatever Daw Suu [Aung San Suu Kyi] wants to do, we are ready to lend her a hand.”

Khin Maung Swe used a metaphor that Aung San Suu Kyi is the burning torch of Burmese politics. He said that he supported Suu Kyi because he believed that if she is in the Parliament, useful laws would be approved and enacted.

NUP spokesman Han Shwe said that the NLD registration was “the first step for national reconciliation.”

Toe Kyaw Hlaing of the 88-generation students group said the decision reflected the desire of the Burmese people.

“We believe that the NLD’s decision is based on the desires of most of the NLD members,” Toe Kyaw Hlaing said.

The NLD central committee meeting was held on Friday at NLD headquarters in Rangoon to decide whether the NLD would register or not. In the meeting, 106 central committee members from states and regions across the country unanimously decided to register, according to NLD spokesman Ohn Kyaing.