National League for Democracy

The Manifesto

of the

on Multi-Party Democracy General Election

1. Throughout the Union of Burma in 1988 there was an extraordinary and unprecedented uprising of all people. They rose up to demand Democracy. Thus, a democratic state was established in order to be liberated from the bitter experience of the society.

2. Now, a chance to establish a democratic system began to emerge that would totally change society. Hence, all the people of Burma, with active spirit and strong determination, would have to elect the peoples' representatives. Those representatives would form a democratic government in accordance with the aspiration of the people and draw up the state constitution that will enable a successful reconstruction of the country.

3. The National League for Democracy firmly believes that, today, in Burma, the masses of people are earnestly aspiring for the formation of a Democratic government that will guarantee basic human rights.

4. The National League for Democracy clearly understands that all the people of Burma are very keen to establish a firmly united "Union" in the near future with equal rights for all ethnic nationalities who cherish democracy.

5. In order to bring about the aims and aspirations of the people successfully, the National League for Democracy, consisting of people wishing to represent farmers, workers, merchants and entrepreneurs, students, youths, women, technicians, academicians, artists and ethnic nationalities, shall let their members participate in this multi-party General Election and pledges to accept the decision of the people.

6. The National League for Democracy, while declaring its principles and policy below, shall accept the wishes of the people and establish a democratic state as desired by the people.

Political

7. As the Union of Burma is a member of United Nations, we shall practice the democratic rules of conduct as stated in the United Nations Charter. With a firm principle that, not only we, but our future generations also, will never lose democratic rights. We must firmly lay down the democratic foundation.

(a) The power of a state must be derived from the people.

(b) Totalitarianism and other political systems that oppress the people must never be allowed to flourish.

(c) In establishing state power through multi-party general elections, every adult citizen must have the right to vote and to elect their representatives in accordance with the basic principle of democracy.

(d) We believe that for political parties, apart from working diligently for the country, must also take up responsibility of being a political nurturing ground. A political party must sow the seeds and nurture seedlings, cultivating leaders for future generations. They must also act as a bridge connecting the public at large to the Executive and Legislative branches of the stand, and to be a tool with the ability to limit the unjust abuse of power by any authoritative persons or organizations.

(e) Free and fair elections, which are the cornerstones of a democratic state, create a base rooted in democracy in which the social life of all the nation's people can develop. The people, who are the primary owners of state power, must have discipline and must not violate the interests of others. According to the rule of law, every citizen must be free to fully enjoy his basic rights such as, freedom of belief, freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom to organize and freedom to earn a living.

(f) The constitution shall distinctly guaranteed basic human rights. Laws shall be adopted allowing one to sue any person for violating human rights under the constitution or specified act.

8. According to the will of the people the "Pyithu Hluttaw" has emerged and been established in accordance with the law. The sovereign power of this "Hluttaw" is ablsolute.

9. The sovereign power of "Pyithu Hluttaw" shall be practiced without reservation, in accordance with the following principles:

(a) There are three independent sectors, i.e., the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary. Each sector must exist independently without interfering with one another.

(b) In working to enact, amend or abolish any laws, it must be independent and in conformity with humanitarianism, having justice and equality.

(c) The administrative machine must not be an apparatus to oppress the people. It must be a machine with the ability to manage and safeguard the interests of the people.

(d) Every citizen shall be equal before the law, irrespective of national or social origin, religion, social status, political opinion, language, sex, age, colour or race and no infringement shall be made of those basic human rights. For example:

(i) The judiciary branch of the government, which must protect basic rights as guaranteed by the constitution, must have standing equal to that of the Legislative and Executive branch of the government and must be independent of them.

(ii) The Supreme Court must have independence from and absolute authority over all other judicial courts under its jurisdiction.

(iii) The adjudication process must be made public. The accused must have full rights with which to defend himself in accordance with the law.

(iv) All judges must have the right to adjudicate independently. There must be no external intervention.

Foreign Affairs

10. To adopt independent foreign policy in international relations.

(a) Any state must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states. They must have policies of non-aggression, non-intervention, equality, mutual benefits and peaceful co-existence, which are the Five Points Principle of the Peaceful Co-existence of States laid down at the Bandung Conference (Indonesia) in 1955. For neighbouring countries, they should have a good neighbourly relationship, establish mutual understanding, and develop co-operation for mutual benefit.

(b) To avoid isolationism and be in an active position to stand firmly for on its principles regarding world affairs.

(c) To actively participate in any international organizations having the same aims and objectives, and to co-operate particularly with regional organizations and projects with regional interest and the interest in the country.

(d) Shall have firm and close relations with the United Nations, World Bank, IMF ... etc.

National Defense

11. (a) The army is born from the people. The army must respect and abide by the constitution of the state. It must stand with the people and must be an institution the people can depend on. The army must be free from party politics and loved by the people.

(b) Strategically, a modern army must be established in accordance with the geographical location of the Union of Burma.

(c) Suitable arrangements are to be made for fallen military personnel and their families, as well as war veterans and their families.

Economy

12. The National League for Democracy believes that the Party that takes responsibility of the new government elected by "Pyithu Hluttaw" will not be able to foresee the financial problems it will have to face. But for the moment, emphasis should be made for short-term economic development. Thus:

(a) Shall give priority for the stability of prices, finance, and jobs, and to work to insure people have confidence in the domestic currency;

(b) To lay down suitable policies for finance and currency, and manage the government's budget properly;

(d) Priority shall be given to the import of goods that will benefit energy refill fuels, transport vehicles and for the falling of prices.

(e) In exports, to encourage goods of various kinds, to be exported as much as possible.

(f) To revise and amend foreign investment laws for setting multiple increases in foreign investment.

(g) To strive for the reduction of foreign debts and to once again receive foreign aid.

(h) To revise the laws, circulate orders, rules and regulations and the management system, that restricted economic enterprises, and some will be amended, and some are to be abolished, as seemed fit.

(i) The present various types of revenue system shall be revised and amended to benefit the private enterprises.

(j) Various enterprises of economic sector must completely base itself on the market economy. Special encouragement shall be made for a quick development of private enterprises.

(k) To encourage tourist industry for further development and smooth running.

Enterprises concerning industry, energy, construction, mines and the service industry

13. (a) The nationalized economic enterprises that are included in all the above sectors of economy, shall be given back to their original owners respectively and for those enterprises whose original owners can no longer take responsibity for them, the state shall try and get the economic expertise and financial investment to continue to run the business.

(b) The business enterprises will not be nationalized. There will be no demonetizations of currency.

(c) The productions and sales of minerals and gems Act shall be prescribed. Permit for joint-venture enterprises and private enterprises shall be granted.

(d) With the exception of some enterprises, if immediately abandoned, could cause devastation to domestic economy and increase unemployment shall be retained, the remaining nationalized enterprises shall be abolished and privatized. For the nationalized factories and industries, that cannot be immediately abolished or privatized, reform work shall be made with respect to investment and constitution in accordance with situation of present era. Unnecessary expense shall be strictly prohibited.

(e) To work toward deferring external debt that must be repaid and to get international financial aid once again to reconstruct the country.

(f) Shall allow foreign investment that will benefit the development of the country's economy, according to the principles of a market economy.

(g) The state shall take responsibility for all the currency that is legally printed and distributed so that the people may have total confidence in the currency.

(h) Shall strive for the widespread use of modern technology and technical know how, in construction of a new state with respect to education sector for the new generation, trade and commerce sector, as well as mass education and other agriculture-dependant enterprises.

Transport and Communication

14. (a) Reform shall be made, concerning transport and communication, as much as possible, in order to allow for a smooth flowing of goods. This will be done in the hopes that prices will then fall.

(b) The work on roads, transport and communication shall be extended for the regions that are still politically, economically and socially backward.

(d) Joint-Venture aviation enterprises shall be established with foreign companies.

Farming

15. The following farming policies shall be implemented for the economic development in this sector.

(a) Every farmer, working for farming has right to own land and to transfer it and to prevent the revival of feudal system by law.

(b) The minimum prices for farming products, on one hand, must cover the basic production cost and the cost of living for farmers, and on the other hand, the domestic prices of the farming products shall have to be adjusted with the international market price.

(c) Farmers shall be given the right to cultivate, to store their farming products, to grind their seeds and to sell and transport their goods.

(d) Considering the economic situation, the agriculture bank system that shall give long and short-term loans to farmers for reforming their lands and other expense of land management shall be extended.

(e) Considering the economic situation, all possible arrangements shall be made for farmers to get enough fertilizers.

(f) Aid and encouragement will be provided for easy access to high-yield seed varieties and their cultivation.

(g) With a well adjusted budget, arrangement must be made for the farmers to obtain enough chemical fertilizers.

(h) Considering the economic situation, priority shall be given to the production of mechanical accessories for agriculture and technology concerning industrial farming.

(i) The farming industry shall not be restricted only to the production of paddy and industrial raw materials. The farming industry will encourage farmers to alter their farming system by growing other grain crops that yield more foreign currency.

(j) Permits for extending cultivated land or virgin soil to the private farming industry for long-term plantation purposes shall be granted.

(k) In looking forward to the progress of modern agricultural technicians, for raising the standard of their skill, they will be encouraged to acquire more knowledge.

(l) The Land nationalization Act, Rent for the Cultivation of Land Act and the Protection of Farmers Rights Act shall be revised.

Forestry

16. For the development of forestry in Burma, the following principles shall be adopted.

(a) The state shall make a special plan to reserve the forests and protect the environment to prevent deforestation.

(b) A systematic plan shall be made to let the people use timbers and other forest products for their household needs.

(c) Systematic management of the extraction of teak and other basic hard wood timbers will be established. Provisions for selling these forest products abroad will be established after consulting with experts.

(d) The policies for plantation, production and sale of hard wood for domestic use, other forest products and timber for industrial raw materials shall be revised and extended.

(e) Expansion and review of cultivation and timber distribution practices for domestic and industrial use.

(f) Contact shall be made with foreign organizations or institutions to obtain machinery, spare parts, accessories and advanced scientific technology.

(g) Rules and regulations shall be laid down for entrepreneurs and working people who rely on the forests and forest products, to let them use the forest on a small scale.

(h) Arrangements will be made to allow privately owned saw mills to produce finished goods from forest products. They will be given the right to distribute and sell these products both inside and outside the country according to the law that shall be adopted.

Fishery

17. For the development of the fishing industry, for the nourishment of the people, to prevent the extinction of fish, near and far from seacoast, and for preserving the fishery profession, the following work shall be done.

(a) Steps shall be taken to encourage private enterprises to extend domestic fish and livestock breeding.

(b) Priority shall be granted to private enterprises for all fishing business near and far from the seacoast. Regarding the work that private enterprises cannot do, state co-operatives and joint venture system shall be established.