No.18 - 04/2006
30 April 2006

Politics

Embattled NLD has company

An elected member of Burma's second biggest party has "resigned of his own accord," reported The New Light of Myanmar yesterday.

Sai Saung Si aka Nelson, 58, had submitted his resignation to the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) Kyaukme branch on 6 April and to the Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission in Rangoon on 27 April, says the paper. He had been elected with 90.78% of validated votes from Kaukme township constituency-2 in the 1990 elections.

Sai Hsawng Hsi (spelling according to British transliteration system) as a result became the third SNLD Member of Parliament who has been "chased out" of the party, according to sources from northern Shan State:

• The first MP was Sai Tun Aung, 48, of Langkher on 5 June 2004
• The second being Khun Tun Oo, 63, the leader of the party, of Hsipaw township constituency-1, who was sentenced to 93-year imprisonment on 3 November 2005

Several sources confirmed that he was summoned by the Home Ministry's Special Branch on 6 April and was given a choice between resignation and the closure of his Arun Oo Guesthouse in Kyaukme. "He chose what was best for him and his family," said one of his close friends. "We don't blame him."

An earlier report also said one of the party's guiding stars Sai Fah aka Sai Hla Pe, 56, of Kyawkme township constituency-1, "has had it too," but other sources were somehow hesitant to say anything about it.

The facts later emerged that Sai Fah was forced to sign a prepared resignation on 7 April, a day after Sai Hsawng Hsi, after being given a choice between quitting the party and termination of his lifelong literature and cultural activities among the Shan populace that had shot him into fame since 1970.

Later on 12 April, the party's Hsipaw branch, headed by Sai Ngo Kawn and Nang La Pyi, was reportedly ordered to close shop. The closure of the branch in Nawngkhio, led by Sai Tun Kyi, either followed or preceded the one in Hsipaw.

However, it is still unclear how other branches are faring although the one in Muse, headed by Sai Kyaw Naing aka Sai Kham Hseng, was "politely requested" to present a full 11-member list of its branch committee on Friday, 28 April. Branches in Taunggyi in the south and in Kengtung in the east meanwhile are still strictly left alone. "It's part of the junta's aim to rid the north of all political and armed opposition movements," said a party sympathizer.

The party had already suffered dissolution of its southern branches in Langkher, Mongkerng and Hsihseng 5 years earlier.

The SNLD emerged at the top statewise with 23 seats in 1990. However, Ten were disqualified by the Electoral Commission, while 6 others have died, leaving only 7 valid members: Hkun Tun Oo, Sai Fah, Sai Tun Aung, Sai Hsawng Hsi, Sai Tha Tun Mya (Laikha), Sai Awn (Mongkerng) and Sai Tin Win (Namzang).