NLD Leaders Meet EU Delegation in Rangoon

Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), on Wednesday hosted a delegation of diplomats representing the European Union (EU) at the party’s headquarters in Rangoon.

An NLD spokesman said the talks mainly focused on the 2010 election in Burma, NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent offer to work alongside the military junta, and the party’s calls for a review of the 2008 Constitution.

Khin Maung Swe, a spokesperson for the NLD, told The Irrawaddy: “First, the EU delegation enquired into the NLD’s point of view and intentions toward competing in the 2010 election. They also asked to hear the party line about Suu Kyi’s recent offer to cooperate with the military junta in efforts to lift international sanctions, and lastly they asked why the NLD is seeking a review of the 2008 constitution.” 

The 20-member EU delegation was headed by the Swedish ambassador to Burma, acting in his capacity as the current chairman of the EU. The delegation included Rangoon-based ambassadors from Germany, Britain, France and Italy, as well as Bangkok-based ambassadors from Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and Finland.

Representing the NLD were Central Executive Committee leaders Than Tun, Nyunt Wai, Hla Pe, Soe Myint, Win Tin and Khin Maung Shwe.

“We explained that we are standing by our ‘Shwegondaing Declaration’ which we announced in April,” Khin Maung Shwe said.

The Shwegondaing Declaration is an NLD statement outlining three provisos for the party’s participation in next year’s election: the unconditional release of all political prisoners; a review of the provisions in the 2008 Constitution “not in accord with democratic principles”; and an all-inclusive free and fair poll under international supervision.

The NLD spokesman said that the party’s future policy can only be decided after the CEC meets with Suu Kyi. However, if electoral laws are announced and political parties are able to form, they would call a party convention so that the party’s leaders could debate the issues with NLD representatives from state and township level.

“On the issue of sanctions, we all agreed with Suu Kyi cooperating with the military junta,” Khin Maung Shwe said.

Last month, Suu Kyi sent a letter to junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe seeking permission to meet Western diplomats and meet with senior members of her NLD in order to negotiate an agreement for an end to international sanctions.

As a result, last Friday Suu Kyi met three Western diplomats in Rangoon for talks on the issue. Later, the NLD’s CEC held talks with the three diplomats for about 30 minutes.

“On the question of our demand to review the Constitution, this is not a power-sharing mechanism, but a chance to democratize,” Khin Maung Shwe said.

The 2008 Constitution—drafted by delegates who were handpicked by the junta—was “approved” by more than 90 percent of eligible voters during a referendum in May 2008. The outcome of the referendum, however, was widely dismissed as a sham.

The regime has consistently ignored calls from the international community and the NLD to review the Constitution.

On Friday, Than Shwe said he would not yield to demands from domestic and international critics who say that the country’s military-sponsored Constitution should be revised ahead of next year’s election.

Khin Maung Shwe told The Irrawaddy he was optimistic because Wednesday’s meeting gave the NLD leaders a chance to explain their beliefs and opinions to the international community.