Which NLD is real? Exile or Domestic?
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Tun MT (NP News) – Mar 9
A cracking tone has been revealed loudly in recent days between members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who are living in domestic after 2021 and the exiles.
The exiled Central Working Committee (NLD CWC) issued a contradictory statement that expels hardcore NLD high-ranked members including Sandar Min, Toe Lwin, Win Myint Aung, and Phyo Min Thein on March 3.
The domestic NLDs who were terminated from positions and the party member statuses thereafter disclosed their disagreements on the termination based on and referring to the NLD party’s constitution.
Notwithstanding, the CWC’s statement 2/2023 clearly states in Paragraph 2 as follows:
“Tasks and responsibilities of the NLD have been being conducted with full credit and accountability by the Central Working Committee in this Spring Revolution period of when the party Chairperson Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other Central Executive Committee members are being detained.”
On the other hand, two of those who were terminated by the CWC, Toe Lwin and Sandar Min, showed their stubbornness in standing to represent the NLD as members of the Central Committee (CC) in authenticity though after being silent for more than two years despite of frequent releases of harsh and hostile statements by the CWC consecutively in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Toe Lwin (CC) claimed that those who fled the country aren’t even regarded as party members following the NLD’s constitution and principles.
Sandar Min (CC), likewise, repeats and echoes that the exiles are no longer regarded as party members as per the party constitution.
Interestingly, the two CCs identically said that “Both Aung San Suu Kyi (current NLD Chairperson) and Win Myint (Vice-Chairman of the NLD) who are detained at the time being disclaimed and refused to acknowledge the existence of the NLD CWC, NUG, CRPH, and PDF which were organized in and controlled by the exile/s.”
In this context, ideology adoptions were ambiguous if ‘Silence means Consent’ or lack of response to an action is a tacit approval of that action or else. Nobody knows.
In addition, none of the domestic NLDs, especially the CECs who aren’t detained in the current situation, have denied or refused or commented even a mere remark on the provocative statements of what the exiled CWC issued in controversial means in the political space in the name of National League for Democracy.
However, the CWC’s 2/2023 statement says in Paragraph 3 that some party members are neglecting the people’s true desires and they are trying to make an alliance with the military.
Sandar Min denied all charges and accusations of collaborating with the authorities. She said, “We are taking responsibility to arrange food supplies and other necessary items for our leaders who are currently detained. How would we do if we don’t contact the authorities to provide those necessary foods and items to our leaders who are in prison now? That isn’t collaborating with the authorities. We are just assisting our leaders.”
Therefore, this recently arisen dispute of quality to represent the NLD, whether exiles or domestics, scrolls up the headline in the days of three weeks ahead of the closing date for the political parties to register whether the NLD will run for the upcoming election or not.
According to Sandar Min, ultimate decision with regard to the party registration is held by Suu Kyi.
Sandar Min added, “There are eight CECs in the domestic who are free and aren’t detained at current situation. The party decision has to be made by the consent of the CECs and the CCs. Again, we can say that ultimate decision depends on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”
As a matter of fact, history repeats itself and rhymes.
NLD: the political party with high prestige in the contemporary politics of Myanmar since 1990 actually encountered a similar scenario dating back to 2010’s party registration period for the 2010 General Election.
At that time, former CEC members of the 1990s NLD generation Thein Nyunt, Khin Maung Swe, and deceased Dr. Than Nyein established another fresh political party to run the 2010 Generation Election that was convened by the State Peace and Development Council. Then in the 2012 by-election, the reincarnated NLD, from above the law, vowed to enter the country’s politics once again.
After 2021 political transition, many NLD partisans, members, ministers and parliamentarians left and run to abroad while majority remains in the domestic. What is more, the exiled CWC has only one CEC member of the NLD – Aung Kyi Nyunt.
Therefore, it arises a sound question for the power balance of which group: exile or domestic outweigh in decision making for the party affairs.