ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Zarni | Chiang Mai – National League for Democracy party members from Meiktila and nearby areas discussed questions related to leadership reform and enlargement of the central body during their monthly meeting.

Party members from Meiktila, Tharzi, Wandwin and Taungtha Townships are planning to send a letter to Party Headquarters urging leaders to conduct reform measures in the central body to ensure better performance and efficiency, as the central leadership, they argue, is currently weak regarding political activities.

"We must get ready for the 2010 showdown. It's already so late now and time is running out. So we must enlarge our central leadership. We are urging them to make the central body workable," Meiktila NLD Secretary Myint Myint Aye told Mizzima.

The regular monthly meeting, attended by Organizing Committee members from these four townships and MP-elects, determined to call for the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) to convene a MP meeting, enlarge the CEC and find a solution for the dispute between youth members and the CEC.

The meeting's resolution highlighted the recent rift between the youth wing and top leadership.

Some who attended the meeting were worried about health situation of Chairman Aung Shwe, while also pointing out the failure of CEC meetings in sending instructions and directives to State and Division levels.

"This resolution is not showing disrespect to our central leaders and is not issued out of either hatred or love. The main point is the ageing of our leaders. Most of them are over 70 or 80 now. Our Chairman is now 91. So, the central leadership is lacking dynamics and efficiency," Than Myint of the Taungtha NLD told Mizzima.

Two key persons from the NLD leadership, Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, are still under house arrest. In the current leadership, Chairman Aung Shwe is 91 and most of the rest are in their eighties.

However the party information team was enhanced with new blood through the addition of Nyan Win, Han Thar Myint and Win Naing, some of whom are over 30 years junior to the old guard leadership.

"If we delay in toppling the military dictatorship and establishing a new democratic country, our country and people will suffer," Than Myint said.

One-hundred nine NLD Youth members from Rangoon Division resigned on the 16th of October after disagreeing over the appointment of new youth leaders by the CEC.

Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the party general secretary, is known among party members for her promotion of youth activities and capacity building.

She formerly held regular literary discussion meetings with youth until again placed under house arrest in May 2003, while some youth members also got a chance to attend English language and public relations courses conducted at foreign embassies.