1990 Election Lessons for the NLD

The National League for Democracy (NLD) rose out of the democracy movement known as “four 8’s movement” in August 1988. Most of the NLD founders were those who participated in the movement. Their primary intension of the formation of the NLD was to contain and continue the momentum of the movement despite setbacks due to the military coup.

The military junta formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) on Sept. 18, 1988 and issued the election commission law a few days later. The NLD was formed on Sept. 27.

At its inception, three factions were included in the NLD; one faction led by former Brig-Gen Aung Gyi composed of former politicians and diplomats, another faction led by Tin Oo with his Patriotic Old Comrades who were former military commanders and a group led by Aung San Suu Kyi consisting of intellectuals and writers.

The Central Executive Committee of the opposition party was composed of 12 members: four members from each faction, chaired by Aung Gyi with Tin Oo as the vice chair and Aung San Suu Kyi as general secretary.

The prime objective described in the NLD constitution was to “bring about a genuine democratic government in accord with people's desire, which can guarantee the basic human rights,” without any hint of participating in the elections. But it also aimed to create a conducive environment for free and fair elections that can bring about a genuine democratic government as described in its action plans.

Unity among the three factions did not last long. Based on accusation of Aung Gyi, eight members of Suu Kyi's faction were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers. A Central Committee meeting was held in November to consider expulsion. The Aung Gyi faction lost. All members of the faction, except for the late leading member Kyi Maung, was expelled from the NLD, according to a pre-arranged agreement.

Since then, throughout the struggles led by Suu Kyi to have a dialogue with the current regime, a large numbers of NLD leaders and members have been arrested. After Suu Kyi and other key leaders were detained on July 20, 1989, the NLD was almost paralyzed by lack of active leaders and intense surveillance by military intelligence.

In late 1989, as almost all of the leaders from Suu Kyi's faction were arrested, NLD's leadership was reformed according to the demands of Suu Kyi's faction. Intra-party struggles took place for a “balance of power” among leaders of the two factions.

The SLORC issued the Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law on May 31, 1989. According to that law, the NLD needed to decide whether it would contest in the elections or not. At that time, many leaders of the party including Suu Kyi had been detained. The rest of the leaders were under close surveillance. 

A heated debate on whether the NLD should contest into elections came out among the party’s members and leadership. Some members argued that without leadership of Suu Kyi and favorable environment for the free and fair elections, the party should not participate into elections. But some people reasoned that the elections would be the only option to have opportunities for reaching out people again. At last, in a Central Committee meeting held on September 25, 1989, the NLD decided to participate into the elections coming in 1990.

The debate was settled when the statement by Suu Kyi was described in the NLD's news bulletin. In her statement dated on Dec. 22, 1989, she said, "I nominate myself as a candidate for the upcoming election as I accept the decision of the Bahan Township's Committee for Selection of Pyithu Hluttaw Candidates made in December, 1989, because I respect the decision of the NLD made in a democratic way, and I want to fulfill the needs of the people as much as I am capable, and I want to honor the courage and determination of the people who desire democracy."

In November, the junta’s Election Commission announced that General Elections would be held on May 27, 1990. 

The first challenge for the NLD was the selection process of candidates. The NLD issued an instruction for the townships with two constituencies to reserve one constituency for those working at Central or State/Division level. The Central Candidate Selection Committee of the NLD nominated some candidates in reserved constituencies. In many townships with two constituencies, problems occurred when township committees failed to support NLD nominees or nominated their own candidates..

Funding for the election campaigns was another challenge. The NLD had to find different ways to raise funds. The NLD sold campaign materials such as posters, post cards or photographs of Suu Kyi and cassette tapes for fund raising purposes. Events were held to raise funds by selling Mohingha, or Burmese traditional food, tea and coffee at some townships.