National League for Democracy

(97/b) West Shwegondine Road

Bahan, Rangoon

Statement 9(1/99)

Contents of the letter dated 11 January 1999 from the Chairman of the

National League for Democracy to the Chairman of the State Peace and

Development Council are reproduced below for all to know.

(START)

Subject- In the matter of the Chaung-Oo township NLD Organising

Committee

1. We are in receipt of a report from our Organising Committee of

Chaung-Oo township, Sagaing Division that the news of resignations on

the 27 November 1998, published by the authorities in the papers the

following day (28 November ) is FALSE.

2. The actual facts in brief are that the Organising Committee had

steadfastly refused to remove the League's signboard despite repeated

demands, threats and intimidation by the Chairman of the administrative

authorities of the township. Then, the said authority demanded to know

the details about the time and place of transfer of the signboard. The

Organising Committee's response was that they were awaiting instructions

from the Central Executive Committee.

3. The Chairman was dissatisfied and on 16 October, 1998 menacingly said

" If you people rely on your party we will rely on authority and apply

our method".

4. At the monthly meeting of the Organising Committee (11 November

1998), a resolution was taken that no matter how much pressure was

applied they would stand firm and not resign but continue with their

activities as usual.

5. The Party's signboard vanished on the 27 November 1998, the

circumstances of which were completely unknown to the current organising

committee. On the next day (28 November) the news of resignation of 11

NLD members from Chaung-Oo township was announced by the authorities.

Then, the newspapers of the authorities carried that news together with

the picture of them and missing signboard. These eleven individuals are

not members of the Chaung-Oo Township Organising Committee and had

distanced themselves from the party a long time ago.

6. Removal of the NLD signboard and fabricating news with words and

pictures that are false is illegal. Therefore we denounce such actions

and the persons who abused their administrative authority by resorting

to illegal methods. We ask that suitable action be taken against the

said administrators". (END)

Central Executive Committee

National League for Democracy

13 January 1999