Plans to contest 2010 election begin to take form

http://www.mizzima.com/news/election-2010/1815-plans-to-contest-2010-election-begin-to-take-form.html

by Nem Davies
Saturday, 07 March 2009 16:07

New Delhi (Mizzima) – A Rangoon-based political group comprised of those who support the Burmese junta's seven-step roadmap will hold a meeting on the 15th of this month to form a 'Joint Action Committee' with an eye to the 2010 general election.

The Union of Burma National Political Force, comprising 11 political organizations, is organizing the meeting in connection with contesting the 2010 election as an alliance, as opposed to independent candidates with separate political parties.

"The main theme of this meeting will be contesting the election as a group, collectively, not as individuals," remarked Ohn Lwin, who is involved with organizing the joint committee.


The group is comprised of: delegates from the National Convention, National Political Association (Taungdwingyi), Wunthanu NLD (Burma), Demo NLD (Sagaing), National Political Front (Rakhine State) and New Generation Students of Study of Modern Science and Political Economy.

The group was established in 2007 and previously conducted political activities related to the emergence of the new constitution as well as the anti-sanction and pro-referendum campaigns.

The meeting is expected to be attended by about 50 people, including some independents and four additional organizations besides those already mentioned above.

"What we will do in the meeting is joint action for common work. If they don't agree with us, they can stay away from us. We shall ask them their will and opinion in the meeting. Then we will issue a statement," said Ohn Lwin.

He also said that the group would work for national reconciliation, education, social development and modernization, and in opposition to sanctions and smear campaigns against the state.

"Our position is endorsing the government's seven-step roadmap as the way out from the current political and economic crises," Ohn Lwin added.

However the National League for Democracy, the election winning party in the 1990 general election, remains opposed to the junta's new constitution, which was approved through a tightly controlled referendum in May 2008.