Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Aung San Suu Kyi's party to be abolished
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Aung San Suu Kyi's party to be abolished
AFP - Friday, May 7
Send
IM Story
Print
YANGON (AFP) - – Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's party, for two decades the symbol of resistance against the ruling junta, is to be dissolved at midnight Thursday under laws laid down ahead of elections.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) refused to meet a May 6 deadline to re-register as a political party -- a move that would have forced it to expel its own leader -- and boycotted the vote scheduled for later this year.
At the party's ramshackle headquarters in Myanmar's former capital Yangon, the "fighting peacock" flag was still flying but party workers were packing up files and mulling new plans to focus on social and development work.
"We have decided not to take down our party signboard and flags as Daw Suu has asked," said prominent NLD member Phyu Phyu Thin, using a respectful form of address for the Nobel peace laureate.
"Although we have no legal headquarters, we will continue our movement. Our people have sacrificed their lives... many of our party members and activists are still in prison," she said.
Along with Suu Kyi's lakeside home, where she has been detained for 14 of the last 20 years, the shabby wooden headquarters has been the focus of efforts to end nearly half a century of military rule.
The NLD was founded in 1988 after a popular uprising against the military junta that left thousands dead. Two years later the party won elections in a landslide but the results were never recognised by the regime.
Prominent rights activist Win Tin, a former political prisoner and senior NLD member, told French radio service RFI he had no regrets.
"We would have lost all dignity, all credibility by placing ourselves in the service of the junta," he said, adding that the decision did not mean that the struggle for democracy in Myanmar was over.
"It really doesn't matter to us that they dissolve us. We will not go away. We will not abandon our ideology, our political struggle, our leadership. We will remain as a party," the 80-year-old activist said.
The junta's new election laws, which forced the NLD into the difficult boycott decision and also officially nullified the 1990 poll results, have been roundly condemned by the international community.
Suu Kyi filed a lawsuit last week to try to overturn the laws but the Supreme Court turned down the bid, paving the way for her party to be automatically abolished at midnight.
"According to the law, the NLD will not be a registered party tomorrow," Myanmar police chief Khin Yi told AFP Thursday.
NLD spokesman Nyan Win said they were no ceremonies scheduled to mark the last hours of the party.
"We have no plans for today. We have no events scheduled at our party headquarters," he told AFP.
He declined to elaborate on the emotions within the party leadership, but analysts say that there has been friction between the older, hardline members and younger more moderate figures who opposed the boycott decision.
Khin Maung Swe, another senior party member, downplayed speculation that he will form a new political party out of the ashes of the NLD. The process for registration of new parties will officially begin from Friday.
"I love this party. But I have to respect the majority's decision. Today will be the last day for us. It's a very sorrowful time as we have to conclude our party this way," he told AFP.
Aung Naing Oo, a former student leader in the 1988 uprising, said the beleaguered pro-democracy movement was now moving into uncharted territory.
"It's a great loss for Burma. I don't see any organisation that can fill the vacuum created by the NLD's departure," he said, using the country's former name.
"Even if the moderates form a political party of their own they will be without their main key asset -- Aung San Suu Kyi."
The NLD leadership, many of whom are in their 80s and 90s, have been criticised for lacking a strategic vision, and some question whether their absolutist stance against the regime is the best way forward.
Aung Naing Oo said a new line-up of pro-democracy campaigners under a fresh banner "may have a better chance of working with the generals, compared to the NLD with all its heavy baggage".
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Afghan president to remake image in Washington AP - 2 hours 3 minutes ago
4 questioned in Pakistan over NY bomb suspect AP - 2 hours 31 minutes ago
Aung San Suu Kyi's party to be abolished AFP - Friday, May 7
N.Korea's Kim says ready to rejoin nuclear talks: report AFP - Friday, May 7
Thai PM eyes September dissolution of parliament AFP - Friday, May 7
News Search
Top Stories
Voters cast ballots in pubs, caravans
Panic-hit Dow crashes down nearly 1,000 points, recovers
European markets sag further, ECB fails to reassure
Herschel telescope shows galactic star formation is slowing
ECB chief rules out Greek default, euro slides
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Lack of sleep linked to early death: study
Freddie Mac asks for fresh 10.6 billion dollar bailout
BP 'dome' carries hopes of averting oil catastrophe
Euro falls under $1.29
Greek unions call protests ahead of austerity vote
More Most Viewed »
Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking
Lack of sleep linked to early death: study
Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype
French driving veil row escalates
Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 7 May 2010 Herschel telescope shows galactic star formation is slowing
Water cooling for supercomputers unveiled in Switzerland
Plots: West must be alert, not alarmist: experts
|
US regulators try new tack in net neutrality quest
US-TECH Summary
ECB chief rules out Greek default, euro slides
Board backs Nokia management despite market pressure
Suu Kyi party splits, faction to run in Myanmar poll
|
No security risk in grooving to Gaga, US Army says
Iran minister to meet U.N. council in NYC
|
TED Talks take to TV
Nigerian leader's funeral draws large crowds
|
Nokia board backs strategy, shareholders cry foul
U.S. envoy meets Netanyahu ahead of peace talks
|
Breakthrough in Air France crash black box search
|
Russian forces seize oil tanker from Somali pirates
|
Board backs Nokia management despite market pressure
Nokia board backs strategy, shareholders cry foul
BP lowers dome as oil laps Louisiana island
Oil lapping ashore on Louisiana island: official
US-TECH Summary
4 questioned in Pakistan over NY bomb suspect
Aung San Suu Kyi's party to be abolished
US eyes foreign links in New York bomb plot
BP's 'giant dome' arrives at site of US oil spill
N.Korea's Kim says ready to rejoin nuclear talks: report
Pakistan Taliban denies training NY bomb suspect
Health of Briton jailed in Kyrgyzstan worsens
Pakistan Taliban did not train NY bomb suspect
India, China draw in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup prelims
1 Chinese baby born with syphilis every hour
Afghan officials: 16 arrested for plotting attacks
Hopes fade for swift end to Thai protests
Hailstorms and gales kill 39 in China
BP turns to Twitter, Facebook on spill information
|
Yahoo rolls out new phase of $100 million ad campaign
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Taiwan parliament asks govt to raise less debt
Hollywood eyes another $4 billion summer movie season
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
A Minute With: Clint Black, the movie star!
Bret Michaels to make most of 2nd chance at life
Paris 'giant drinks party' has police worried
Einstein's E=mc2 on display at Shanghai Expo
Britain's Philharmonia performs at S.Korean leper colony
In Armenia chess is king and grandmasters are stars
Hollywood eyes another $4 billion summer movie season
A Minute With: Clint Black, the movie star!
|
Bret Michaels to make most of 2nd chance at life
|
Iran invites UN Security Council to dinner, including US
Britain in limbo as hung parliament looms
U.S. joins U.N. council at Iran dinner in New York
UK faces government without single party majority
|
AMD chips to be in many more computers this summer-sources
South Sudan raids kill 24 as secession vote nears
Humans interbred with Neanderthals: genome analysis
Russian president slams 'totalitarian' USSR
Thai protesters refuse to quit, peace plan in limbo
|
Google adds language translation to Android smartphones
Greek parliament backs tough austerity bill
|
BP lowers dome as oil laps Louisiana island
Muslim soldiers' graves desecrated in France
FCC chief promises light broadband touch
"Showgirls" 15th Anniversary Hits DVD, Blu-ray
Voters cast ballots in pubs, caravans
North Korea's Kim reaffirms nuclear disarmament: China
|
Privacy groups take Facebook complaint to US regulators
Panic sends Dow to worst ever drop
BBC America To Debut Reality Show "The Choir" In July
Arabic websites make history with native script addresses
U.S. Markets Finish 3 Percent Lower After Whipsaw Session
US regulators try new tack in net neutrality quest
Probe concludes torpedo sank South Korea ship: report
|
PA Politician Calls for Moratorium on Gas Drilling Permits
DEA Nails NYPD Officer For Armed Robberies Netting $1 Million
BP turns to Twitter, Facebook on spill information
Ash cloud forces Irish airport closures, Dublin clear
|
FCC Proposes Net Neutrality to Broaden Internet Access
Nokia board backs strategy, shareholders cry foul
Dow Jones Plunges Nearly 1K Before Brisk Rebound
U.S. joins U.N. council at Iran dinner in New York
|
Sundance Channel To Premiere Second Season Of "Man Shops Globe"
International Monetary Fund Managing Director To Visit India
FBI Arrests Arizona Deputy For Drug Smuggling
'Big ideas' key to US surge success in Iraq: Petraeus
Torpedo explosives found on sunken S.Korea ship
Obama told Afghan progress 'slow but steady'
Suu Kyi supporters to form new political party
N.Korea's Kim vows to work on nuke talks revival
Kim leaves China after affirming nuke talks
Gunmen attack Pakistan checkpoint, kill police
Indian press hails Mumbai attacker death sentence
FCC chief promises light broadband touch
|
AMD chips to be in many more computers this summer-sources
|
Gunmen kill 4 police at checkpoint in NW Pakistan
Aquino leads survey ahead of Philippine vote
Reliance shares up on news of Indian court ruling
Thai PM battles to keep peace roadmap on track
Contagion fears jolt Asian markets
Seoul shares fall on record foreign selling
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea won ends down 1.2 pct on Europe debt woes
Seoul shares fall on record foreign selling
Pakistani c.bank rejects all bids in 7-day repo offer
Nintendo to beef up piracy measures in 3-D machine
China think tank calls for flexible yuan
Bank of Japan adds $21.8 billion to money markets
In Vietnam film, US My Lai killer returns to apologise
PAKISTAN
Rodents pose new health threat in Zimbabwe's towns
"Lost" baddie Kevin Durand books two sci-fi movies
Weinsteins' 1st Asian film gets China release date
R&B star Usher leads singles chart
Networks unlikely to profit from World Cup
Rourke checks out prison for 'Iron Man 2'
Iron Man 2 lacks a big punch for many critics
|
Cannes shaping up a winner for movie industry
Kristen Stewart goes "On the Road"
Networks unlikely to profit from World Cup
|
Chris Brown making progress on probation
|
R&B star Usher leads singles chart
|
Prosecutors oppose release of Polanski transcripts
|
Lost baddie Kevin Durand books two sci-fi movies
|
Kristen Stewart goes On the Road
|
Iran belongs to world's "nuclear club," cleric says
German MPs green-light unpopular Greek aid
Spain scrapes out of recession
West Bank mosque fire 'was most likely arson'
Pakistan mosque accused of strong militant ties
|
Russia 'releases captured Somali pirates'
Global stocks retreat as US probes Wall St plunge
German lawmakers back Greek aid package
|
Heat on euro leaders turns global
Afghans wary as NATO rebrands Kandahar process
|
Jonas Brothers Premiering Newly Named JONAS L.A. In June
Turkish government pushes reforms towards referendum
|
German MPs debate unpopular Greek aid
Rhode Island Town Councilmen Charged In Federal Corruption Probe
Jokes About Miami Airport Worker's Body Scan Lead To Beating, Arrest
Iran belongs to world's nuclear club,: cleric
|
US probes shock share plunge after market panic
Three Massachusetts Boys Consume Dry Ice On A Dare
Chaz Bono Granted Legal Name And Gender Change
Israel won't move on U.N. call for nuclear-free zone
|
FDA Approves Bayer Oral Contraceptive
Death Toll In Southern California Shooting Rises To 3
Colombian candidate Mockus edges over Santos: poll
|
Romaine Lettuce Recalled Because Of E.Coli Concerns
Nigerian leader likely to name deputy by Tuesday: source
|
Cancer Society Claims White House Panel's Report Overemphasizes Pollution
Senate Bows To Obama Statement To Throw Out GOP Amendment
Israel tells US envoy security key in peace efforts
NKorea's Kim reaffirms nuke talks on trip to China
At least 58 killed in southern China storms
2 NATO troops, civilians die in Afghanistan
China opens first office in Taiwan
7 Indonesians die after drinking homemade liquor
Dalai Lama tells AP: Exiles must press China talks
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates end down; rupee weakens
India billionaire Mukesh Ambani wins family feud
Top India court ruling favors Reliance Industries
Pakistan: Times Sq. bomb suspect didn't act alone
China heparin IPO lifts founders to richest couple
Kyrgyzstan demands toppled leader's extradition
Japan's Toshiba sees losses narrow
Nokia broadens legal battle vs Apple, includes iPad
|
China says property market measures are working
Borders takes orders for Kobo eReader due in June
|
Taiwan exports surge amid economic recovery
Panasonic reduces losses on sales recovery
Bank of Japan injects cash, PM vows extra steps
Toshiba books $531 million profit in January-March
Gaza smokers forced to cough up as Hamas seeks cash
Australian jailed for marijuana possession in Bali
Oliver Stone targets banks in Wall Street sequel
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights