New Burmese democracy splinter party registers in poll

Updated July 14, 2010 11:21:58

A breakaway group from Burma's disbanded opposition National League for Democracy Party has registered to run in elections due later this year. The decision by the National Democratic Force to run in the poll has put it at odds with supporters of pro-democracy and former NLD leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi. Burma's military rulers disbanded the N-L-D after it refused to register for the polls, but the regime has now recognised the newly-formed National Democratic Force.

Presenter: Lynette Hyslop
Speakers: Myint Cho, Australia-Burma Council; Dr Trevor Wilson, former Australian ambassador to Burma

HYSLOP: Burma's ruling military has been under heavy international pressure to introduce democratic reforms and announced new elections will be held later this year on a still unspecified date.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won the last elections in 1990 by a landslide but the military government never allowed the party to take power and Suu Kyi has spent much of the past 20 years in jail or under house arrest.

Now this time round, the NLD opted to boycott the vote, because of rules that would have forced its leader to be expelled.

Now the National Democratic Force is urging people to vote saying the poll could hold change in the country.

But spokesman for Burma's Campaign Australia, Myint Cho, says many in Burma have long memories and will not be convinced.

CHO: That group believe that they can use influence on the NLD to organise the people, to win the election, actually I don't think that is the case, because the NLD people already declared that they will not support 2008 Constitution, they will not contest the election, they will not support every political party who abide by the 2008 Constitution, so the people understand that. They have a right not to vote, they have a right to reject all registered parties for the upcoming election. So I don't think people will support those parties who register for the elections.

HYSLOP: While he would not accuse the new party of turning its back on its pro-democracy leader, he says its members are weak.

CHO; I don't accuse them of betrayal, I want to say that they are not committed enough to fight for democracy.

HYSLOP: But members of the National Democratic Force have vowed to keep up their former leader's fight for democracy. And while some observers believe they may cave to the military just a little, former Australian ambassador to Burma, Dr Trevor Wilson, disagrees.

TREVOR WILSON: Not endorsement of military control or the military regime in any sense whatsoever. I mean there are other political parties that have been registered who also oppose the military regime, but they will not be allowed to say that because of the restrictions on press freedom and freedom of expression.

HYSLOP: Do you think that perhaps seeing the members of the NLD would see the National Democratic Force or the formation of it as a betrayal?

TREVOR WILSON: Possibly, yes, they may well do so.

HYSLOP; So there would be acrimony with this split?

TREVOR WILSON: Oh, there's tension, acrimony I am not sure.

HYSLOP: But at the end of the day, Dr Wilson says he doesn't think the new party will have much impact or in fact make any long term difference to Burma.

TREVOR WILSON: Well, I don't think they are a very large or significant group, I don't think they will be able to mobilise a great deal of support for their candidate, I don't think they will win many seats, I am not even sure that they have membership across the country as the main NLD have.