CNI News
28 Jan 2023
Although the State Administration Council has enacted a law requiring political parties to reregister, the National League for Democracy is unlikely to do so, Political Observer Advocate U Kyee Myint told the CNI.
A new political parties registration law for elections scheduled in August was signed into law by SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing on 26th January.
U Kyee Myint told the CNI, "I don't think the NLD will re-register because it has already register once. Before the 2010 elections were held, political parties were required to re-register. When U Thein Sein permitted the NLD to compete the by-election, the NLD was forced to re-register. Political situation then was different from the current one. Politicians always say political parties can be formed anytime as long as they enjoy public support. Leading NLD politician U Win Tin always said that. However, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not listen to U Win Tin's advice. I don't think the NLD will re-register this time.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Most NLD leaders are in jail at present and some NLD members who are in good relations with the SAC may re-register under the name of the NLD, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "The majority of NLD leaders are in prison while some of them have been sentenced to death. A large number of lawmakers are being detained. The CRPH and the NUG are organizations that are fighting against the SAC. They have announced that they would not recognize the elections and the NLD has announced that it would not contest the elections held by the SAC. However, there may be black sheep or nominal NLD members who are in good relations with the SAC. It is a political issue. They may be able to use the NLD in name only and will not garner support of the people. They may use new political parties but they will be notorious in history. There were precedents."
Under the new political parties registration law, political parties that represent the entire country are required to deposit MMK 100 million in a bank account at one of the Myanmar Economic Banks and to recruit 100,000 members within 90 days after their registration has been approved.
Some NLD members may re-register the party and contest elections but it is difficult for them to recruit 100,000 new members, U Kyee Myint added.
Supporters of the NLD. (Frontier Myanmar)
He said, "One of the risk is that some traitors from the NLD may re-register the NLD and contest the elections. As the majority of the party do not re-register, they may re-register the party. Deposit MMK 100 million is nothing for them. However, it is difficult for them to recruit 100,000 members. So, the NLD is unlikely to contest the elections."
Top NLD leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Win Myint and Dr Zaw Myint Maung are being detained by the military.
Some central executive committee members like U Hanthar Myint and Dr Myo Nyunt have been released by the junta but they cannot be seen in the current political activities. Other central executive committee members Daw May Win Myint and U Aung Kyi Nyunt are taking part in the Spring Revolution.
