AFP-Ethnic minority groups join NLD

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Ethnic minority groups join NLD parliament drive, party says
Thu 17 Sep 98 - 12:47 GMT 

YANGON, Sept 17 (AFP) - Myanmar's main opposition party Thursday said it
had secured the backing of a handful of ethnic resistance groups for its
decision to convene a parliament.

In a written statement, the National League for Democracy (NLD) party's
newly-formed "representative committee" announced it held its first meeting
Wednesday and adopted four resolutions.



The fourth resolution welcomed four groups, including three which had
previously signed ceasefire agreements with the ruling military.



The NLD statement also said the special committee had elected Arakan state
NLD party member Saw Mya Aung as chairman of the parliament it has pledged
to convene by the end of this month.



The NLD on Wednesday announced the formation of the 10-member
representative committee to implement its decision to convene a parliament
of politicians elected in the 1990 general elections.



The party, under Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, won the elections
in a landslide but the ruling military council has refused to recognise the
result and dismissed calls for parliament to meet.



NLD chairman Aung Shwe was named head of the committee, of which party
secretary-general Aung San Suu Kyi is a member.



The NLD statement Thursday called for "full rights for all political
parties to freely conduct their political activities" and for the
"immediate and unconditional" release of all political prisoners.



It also said the tenure of the parliament elected in 1990, which has never
met, was valid "for as long as it takes for the parliament to promulgate a
constitution drafted by democratic means."



The ruling State Peace and Development Council says the planned parliament
would be illegal and has detained hundreds of democracy advocates in recent
weeks, according to the opposition.



The statement said the NLD's call for a parliament was supported by the
Shan State People's Liberation Organisation, which had previously agreed a
ceasefire with the junta.



The Karenni All People's Liberation Army and New Mon State Party, both of
which have signed ceasefires with the government, were also welcomed. The
fourth group was the New Kayan State Party, the committee's statement said.



"This committee will act as a representative for all elected candidates
under the 1990 elections law and will take full responsibility until
parliament is successfully convened," it said.



According to an earlier statement, the committee will carry out the mandate
of 251 of the parliamentarians remaining from the 485 who won seats eight
years ago.