National League for Democracy

NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road

Bahan, Rangoon

Statement NO: 18(2/99)

1. We have been informed by those whose concern is that the news

published on the 22 January 1999 by the authorities making out that the

NLD Orgnising Committee in Gwa township, Arakan State had been dissolved

on the 19 November 1998 is false. Neither individually nor collectively

did any NLD member express the desire to quit nor was any meeting held

to get a consensus.

2. Township NLD organising chairman U Sein Kyaw has been imprisoned.

The deputy chairman had only been released from imprisonment. Action

under the restrictive movement law has been taken against the Secretary

and Hluttaw representative U Nyi Pu. Joint Secretary U Soe Lay is under

detention pending enquiry.

3. The League's signboard was forcibly removed by Township Police

Station Officer U Maung Maung Lay and his group under instruction from

his superiors.

4. Though the League's signboard has been forcibly removed and members

have been illegally arrested, pressured and coerced and movements

restricted all the members including the chairman, secretary and joint

secretary have not quit up to date. Therefore we declare that the Gwa

Township NLD Organising Committtee still exists as a lawful

organisation.

Central Executive Committee

National League for Democracy