NLD Statement 94 in English

[nldburma@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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

Statement 94 (10/98)


1. The Military Intelligence Service has illegally arrested and held NLD 
parliamentarians, NLD members of organising committees (States, 
Divisions, Townships, Wards, and Villages), and ordinary members for no 
legitimate reason but purely out of spite making a mockery of the "rule 
of law " which is being proclaimed.

2. These illegal arrests and imprisonment and abuse of power to the 
extreme are being falsely reported as " holding discussions ". This is a 
mean and shameful strategy and should not be resorted to. In law, 
depriving a person of the comfort and company of his family and home 
life by taking him away through the use of authority and power, amounts 
to illegal restraint and imprisonment. The truth of the matter is that 
no discussion took place. It was out and out arrest and interrogation. 
The questions put to them  by the military intelligence were:-

(a) Questions similar to those that have been embodied in NLD statement
   	
71(9/98).
(b) Calling for the convening of the people's parliament by the NLD- is 
it  	lawful or not?
(c) Whether or not you will attend the parliament convened by the NLD.
(d) Whether the NLD was given the mandate to convene parliament.

3. The NLD members who are under arrest have committed no criminal 
offence nor have  they violated any provision of law that is right and 
proper. They are persons of good repute who desire genuine democracy and 
human rights for the country and are working towards that goal.

4. The people voted in NLD members to parliament with one voice because 
they had confidence in their integrity. They believed that the 
individuals they voted for would act for the good of the country and 
they approved of the policies and activities of the party.

5. These individuals in whom the people laid their trust and who have 
the ability to perform  tasks for the good of the country are now 
suffering arrest and imprisonment. The military intelligence personnel 
are treating these highly respectable individuals in a very shabby 
manner.
(a) 	Instead of admitting that they had been arrested and imprisoned, it 
is falsely reported  that " discussions " are taking place. Genuine 
discussions do not go on for such a long period of time.
(b) 	In addition to these lies, they permit some of the NLD 
parliamentarians to spend a day or a night  with their families or 
otherwise on a Saturday or a Sunday making it appear that they are 
having a break. This is an attempt to demoralise the individual and 
members of his family. Such contemptible strategies should not be 
adopted.
(c) 	Without their consent, photographs with videos and cameras are 
taken of them sometimes when they are allowed to meet with their 
families, or when they are having a meal together. This is for the 
purpose of presenting to the world a false picture. This is shameful 
behaviour void of fellow feeling or compassion.
(d) 	The military intelligence personnel deceitfully told those NLD 
parliamentarians who were permitted to return to their homes for a short 
visit that if they stopped their association with the NLD or if members 
of the NLD did not contact them, they would be allowed more visits- 
perhaps once a week or once a month. This is an attempt to drive a wedge 
in between the members of the party, a most demeaning trait of 
character.
(e) 	Some NLD members were abruptly forced to leave while taking a meal 
with the family by the military intelligence personnel. This again 
reveals the lack of common courtesy and fellow feeling.

6. The Central Executive Committee of the NLD enthusiastically applauds 
the NLD parliamentarians for not caving in but standing firm and 
adhering to the policies laid down by the party, despite the mental and 
physical hardships imposed on them. We announce our pride and joy in 
this matter. This is evidence of the fact that an individual's firm 
convictions cannot be demolished in any way and under no circumstances. 
Similarly we applaud the tenacious spirit of their families.

7. The crafty activities of the military personnel as enumerated above 
is despicable and akin to the methods used in communist and fascist 
countries. Now is the time when the NLD and other democracy activists 
and the people are striving with all their might to bring about a 
multi-party democratic system.

8. The activities of the military personnel are deliberately designed to 
deceive the special envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations 
who is in the country at this time. If they are genuine and want to show 
it they can immediately and unconditionally release all -by this we mean 
all- the NLD members who have been restrained and or imprisoned. By now 
the "discussions" should be over.

9. The National League for Democracy rebukes and denounces the military 
intelligence services for the above activities. We hereby announce that 
we are determined to implement the results of the 1990 general elections 
by the convening of parliament and to take whatever necessary steps even 
though the parliamentarians are being made the scapegoats. We will stand 
firm and not waver one bit and continue in our efforts to convene the 
people's parliament.


Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

29 October 1998.             




______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com