NLD Statement 90 (translation)

[nldburma@xxxxxxxxxxx]

National League for Democracy
No:(97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan Township, Rangoon

STATEMENT 90 (7/99)(translation)

1.  Very strong and convincing evidence and information has been
received about the dishonest and illegal strategies that are most
disgracefully resorted to by the authorities to discredit and defame
members and their right to operate at the legally constituted office of
the NLD in the Ayeyawaddy Division.

2. U Thet Way, chairman of the NLD branch at Zalun township, Hinthada
District was summoned and pressured by the township PDC to resign his
position as chairman and member of the League. Moreover all illegal
methods were resorted to for the removal of the League's signboard that
was placed at his residence.

3.  U Thet Way was adamant in refusing to remove the signboard because
of his strong convictions that the organisation is a legally constituted
party with every right to operate having gained the support of the
people.

4.  At 10:30 p.m. on 31 May 1999, a group of persons including members
of the administrative authorities acting like a bunch of dacoits entered
his compound and forcefully removed and stole the signboard that was at
the League's office in U Thet Way's house.

5.  We also have information about the pressure that is being applied by
the authorities on chairmen and all organising committee members in
Hinthada town to resign and to forcibly remove the League's signboards.
But this has been resisted because of the strong belief in the party's
right to operate as a legally constituted political party.

6.  Because of this the police force in Hinthada township have framed
(rigged evidence) and illegally arrested party members U San Maung, U
Htay Myint, and U Kyaw Win on the 1 July 1999.

7.  The mode in which this was done is as follows. While U San Maung and 
family were off guard some unknown person left Che lottery counterfoils and 
pamphlets in some part of the house and a search was conducted by the 
authorities who immediately seized them and arrested him. U San Maung was 
wary of these deceitful tricks of the authorities and has always avoided any 
activity that offends any law togive his opponents an opening to frame him.

8.  With regard to U Kyaw Win, the members of his family kept their eyes 
skinned and closely watched the police who entered the house to conduct a 
search. They screamed out loudly and protested when one in the search party 
slipped out some Che lottery counterfoils from his shirt cuffs. But the 

police brazenly proceeded in their dastardly operation of foul play. U Htay 
Myint was arrested despite the absence of any evidence.

9.  The Police force, which is a law enforcement body, is deliberately
and brazenly creating false evidence that does nothing to guarantee the
safety of the populace. The operation to deliberately find fault and
arrest members of the NLD not only destroys and demolishes the integrity and 
moral code of the civil servants and the police force, but reduces to scraps 
of paper the existing laws, rules and regulations. We
therefore denounce these activities. We demand that those framed and
held be immediately and unconditionally released and those responsible
be decisively and effectively dealt with.


Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

Rangoon
6 July 1999


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