Myanmar Spring Chronicle – September 28
Published by MoeMaKa on September 29, 2023
The 35-Year Journey of the NLD Party and Myanmar Politics
It has been 35 years since the inception of the National League for Democracy, known as the NLD. Reflecting on this history, one is reminded of the tumultuous events of 1988, a year when the military regime clamped down on the 8888 Uprising movements. It was during this period that the National League for Democracy was born. On September 27, 1988, the BBC Burmese news, at 8:15 pm, announced the formation of the National League for Democracy, led by prominent figures such as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, and U Aung Gyi. The announcement included Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s unwavering commitment to a non-violent political path.
At that juncture, thousands of students and civilians who had actively participated in the 8888 Uprising were making their way to regions along the border controlled by ethnic armed groups. In the months preceding the military coup on September 18, some student leaders involved in the 8888 Movement had ventured into border areas to explore the possibility of an armed resistance movement.
The notable point here is that while many young activists were turning towards the armed path after the brutal suppression of the 8888 Movement, political leaders like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Aung Gyi, and U Tin Oo decided to advance the cause of democracy through non-violent means.
Fast forward to 2021, after the military coup, most of the young activists who engaged in anti-coup protests eventually chose the path of armed resistance following more than a month of citywide demonstrations. Many National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentarians convened in Nay Pyi Taw, forming the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH). They ventured into regions controlled by ethnic armed groups and established the National Unity Government. Although it can be argued that the National Unity Government was formed by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), in practice, it is the CRPH that has taken the reins after over two years. In a dramatic turn of events, after more than three decades since the NLD’s founding in 1988, top leaders of the party are now detained, with second-tier leaders and parliamentary members representing the NLD in the National Unity Government.
Looking back at the NLD party’s journey over 35 years, as suggested by its name, “League,” it initially brought together individuals who had once been on opposing sides in Myanmar’s complex political landscape, including former military officers, leftists, and proponents of right-wing ideologies. Shortly after its formation, there was a split within the party led by U Aung Gyi, prompted by mistrust, suspicions, and allegations. This early divide was rooted in U Aung Gyi’s proposal to address accusations of communist influences within the party’s think tanks. In a voting process, U Aung Gyi lost and subsequently left to establish his own party. Following U Aung Gyi’s departure, the military group arrested leftist and right-wing thinkers within the party on charges of communism and foreign allegiances, leading to lengthy prison sentences. This sequence of events paved the way for former military commanders like U Aung Shwe to rise to leadership positions after the think tank’s efforts, led by U Win Tin, failed to guide the party.
In the first election of 1990, the NLD party secured a resounding victory. However, the transfer of political power did not occur, and some top leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, were placed under house arrest. This marked the initiation of the Gandhi Hall Declaration, which called for a temporary constitution and the 1990 elected parliamentarians. Subsequently, the political climate evolved with the drafting of the National Convention, a process that extended from the beginning of 1989, marked by fluctuations in political activities, house arrests, and releases, to the year 2010. Throughout this period, the NLD’s journey experienced its share of highs and lows, a period of expelling Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the party included.
These fluctuations refer to a situation where leaders were repeatedly detained and released over more than two decades, without achieving the goal of forming a government with elected parliament members. This highlights the fact that despite these challenges, the NLD’s popularity remained resilient, and the party consistently prioritized securing the release of detained leaders over the transfer of political authority. Dialogues were initiated with the military junta, underlining the need for reconciliation.
During the NLD party’s 35-year journey, there were phases of robust cooperation and unity with ethnic political parties, as well as periods marked by misunderstandings, disputes, and competition. Instances of party leaders breaking away and establishing separate parties due to disagreements over participation in the 2010 election serve as an example of this complexity.
In the realm of Myanmar politics, the assertion that supporting the NLD is largely rooted in personal trust in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is accurate to some extent, at least around 70 percent. However, the current circumstances, where Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is detained by the military, underscore the necessity for the party to be policy-driven rather than personality-dependent.
During Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest, former commander U Aung Shwe took the reins of the party. The party’s leadership style during U Aung Shwe’s tenure showed a marked coldness towards dissenting party members. This was evident in U Win Tin’s unwavering leadership and the party’s resolute stance in confronting the junta during the 2010 election challenge. Moreover, when the party was restructured with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the chairperson for the 2012 election, party members reregistered and embarked on a fresh start, underscoring that the party still centered around Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. To sustain the party’s present operations, the Central Working Committee (CWC), a working group, remains active in striking a balance between local and international party leaders. This group meticulously steers the party’s course, with the intent of reinstating Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s leadership, akin to U Aung Shwe’s era. On the 35th anniversary of the NLD, a party shaped by both its people and its policies, it is evident that the electorate continues to rally behind the party they voted for.