Dissolution of the National League for Democracy

April 3, 2023

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been in political turmoil since the military coup on February 1, 2021. The military junta, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, seized power and detained the country’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other prominent figures. The military claimed voter fraud in the 2020 election, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide. The coup sparked widespread protests and violence across the country, with the junta using brutal tactics to suppress dissent. In the latest development, the military junta dissolved the NLD, the ruling party, last week.

The NLD’s Dissolution and its Leader

The NLD is the party founded by Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar. She has been under house arrest for many years and faced numerous legal challenges from the previous military regime. The NLD won the 2020 election by a landslide, but the military coup prevented them from taking power. On March 23, the military junta dissolved the NLD, citing alleged election fraud. The move follows a new Political Party Registration Law that requires all parties to re-register by March 28, or they would face dissolution.

Implications of the Political Party Registration Law

The new law has raised concerns among democracy advocates and human rights groups, who claim that it aims to limit political opposition and cement the military’s power. The law prohibits anyone previously convicted of a crime or serving a prison term from joining a political party, disqualifying many opposition figures. It is expected to severely limit the rights of citizens to form and join political parties. Parties that fail to re-register face dissolution, as seen with the NLD.

The Military Junta’s Plan

The military junta aims to strengthen its power through an election scheduled for 2023. It intends to establish a political system that would ensure military control over the government and its resources. By dissolving the NLD, the junta has eliminated a formidable opponent and prevented them from participating in any future elections.

The NLD’s Response and International Condemnation

The NLD’s Central Work Committee said the party’s dissolution had no legitimacy and accused the junta of violating the constitution. Since the coup, the party has faced numerous arrests and detentions, with over 1,235 members detained. The Western nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Germany, Canada, and Japan, have condemned the dissolution of the NLD, calling it a severe blow to democracy.

The Emergence of the National Unity Government

In response to the coup and the NLD’s dissolution, members of the ousted NLD administration and their allies formed the National Unity Government. The group aims to restore democracy and human rights in Myanmar, calling on the international community to support their cause.

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