NLD Statement 17/97

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

[The following is the translation of NLD transcript (Statement No.
17/97) written in Burmese.

National League for Democracy
97/B West Shwegondine Street
Bahan Township, Yangon

Statement - 17/97


1.  The National League for Democracy is a legally constituted political
party registered in accordance  with the provisions of the Political
Parties Registration Act.

2.  As stipulated in Section 2(a) of the Political Parties Registration
Act and Section 2(b) of the Associations Act , the Central Executive
Committee is responsible for the organization, establishment and
management of  the affairs of the association.

3.  Accordingly, the Central Executive Committee assigned the task of
organizing the Youth Affairs Wing of the League to the General Secretary
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The State, Division and Township branches were
assigned tasks to draw up relevant programs.

4.  On 28 October 1997, the Chairman, Deputy Chairmen and General
Secretary of the League, together with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman
of the Rangoon Division and other responsible persons were on their way
to the venue where the Mayangone Township Youth Affairs meeting was to
be held.

5.  Before they could arrive at the Mayangone office the authorities,
with a show of strength out of all proportion to the small group of
party officials, prevented them from proceeding . The group then
dispersed into smaller groups.

a)  The first group comprising the Chairman, U Tin U  (Deputy Chairman),
the General Secretary, and Youth members were  at the corner of Kaba-aye
Road and Gandama Road, half a kilometer from the office, when they were
stopped.

b) U Kyi Maung (Deputy Chairman), members of the Central Executive, U
Soe Myint (Chairman, Rangoon Division), Dr. Than Nyein (Deputy
Chairman),  Dr. May Win Myint (member of Central Womens Affairs), and 
members of the Youth Wing formed the second group.  They  were harshly
reprimanded and made to board the vehicles that were standing by and
driven to Shwe -ta-kaw in Hlaing township.  Shwe-ta-kaw is a burial
ground.  This group peacefully returned to their respective  homes
having made their own arrangements.

(c)  The third group comprised members (boys and girls) of the youth
wing from Mayangone who had arrived at the office prior to the blockade.
This group was forced on to buses arranged by the authorities and were
driven to the following destinations:- Road to  Nyaungdone  in Htantabin
Township, Villages and islands in Hlegu township, Pale Myothit, Kantala
village in Mingaladon township.  Without any protest or demonstration,
these people peacefully returned to their homes making their own
arrangements.

(d) Abandoning these people and forcing them to return to their homes on
their own is an inhuman and most inconsiderate act.

6. Judging the above events by the four cardinal rules of equity and
justice, it is evident that the actions of the Central Executive
Committee were disciplined and void of any motive to cause  unrest or to
incite and disturb the peace or security of the country.

7.  From its inception, the National League for Democracy has acted in
conformity with the democratic system and there is no evidence of it
ever violating any section of the Emergency  Provisions Act.

8.  Just as in every organization, be they organizations bearing arms or
not, the  duty of the Central Executive is to carry out to the best of
its ability the duties assigned to it by the organization.

9.  However,  on the 28th and 29th of October, the authorities arrested
Dr. Than Nyein, Daw San San, Dr. May Win Myint, U Soe Myint (Thaketa), U
Khin  Maung Myint and Daw Win Win Htay. and, on the 29th and 30th they
arrested U Win Thoung  (Deputy Chairman of Mayangone Branch), and U Nyan
Thoung (member  of Mayangone Branch) at whose residence the
organization's signboard was hung.

10. No information was given to the relatives or the head office about
the whereabouts or health of these people that were arrested.

11.  The authorities gave no information to the  Central Executive
Committee  as to why the said persons were arrested or where and when 
they would be sent up for trial.  When family members obtained
information  surreptitiously they  went to the court located at the
Insein jail with their defence lawyers equipped with evidence to refute
any charges. But all were denied admission to the court.

12.  Section 2 (6) of the Judicial Proceedings Act categorically states
that " the right to defence and the right to appeal in accordance  with
the law is permitted".  However,  they were denied the right to be
defended by their lawyers and judgment was prejudicial.  The Judicial
Proceedings Act, Section 2(6) also categorically states that "unless
provided by law, all trials must be public".  In these cases, the judge
was taken into the prison and there was no public hearing.

13. They were then sentenced to seven years imprisonment despite the
fact that those seven members of the Central Committee had not committed
any offence and that there was no evidence that they had violated the
provisions of Section 5(10) of the Emergency Provisions Act.  The
relevant authorities did not inform the relatives or their lawyers of
the sentence they had passed.  As for Daw San San, it was later learnt
that she was being detained under Section 10 (a) of  the law to
safeguard the country from people who intend to disrupt and destroy
it.                                    .

14.  Lloyd            , a well known academic in political science said
that " The merits or demerits of a government can be judged by its laws
and judicial practice.

15.  The National League for Democracy therefore strenuously denounces
the sentencing and trial of its members who are innocent of committing
any offence whatsoever.   We therefore demand that the said persons and
all other political prisoners be released at once.

Central Executive Committee 
National League for Democracy
Rangoon
12 December 1997