08 July, 2004 - Published 13:49 GMT

Does Burma need more political parties?

Self-styled national politician U Win Naing of Rangoon says Burma needs more parties for democracy.

He claims he is leading an unspecified numbers of 'national politicians' who are operating as individual politicians and have common democratic goals.

Those politicians are not an organisation- there is neither a permanent meeting place nor registered membership as such, he explains.

U Win Naing once belonged to former prime minister U Nu's League for Democracy and Peace Party but the party was de-registered along with two hundred odds parties by the military government in the early 1990s.

At the moment in Burma, the National League for Democracy is the main democratic party although the National Unity Party and eight ethnic parties are also legally standing political organisations.

U Win Naing says, on the BBC Burmese radio, that authorities should allow formation of new political parties or revival of a number of abolished parties for the benefit of the country, and international communities should not listen to the NLD alone but also to other democratic groups.

Does Burma need more democratic parties?

Some of the selected emails...

No wonder he belongs to former prime minister U Nu's League for Democracy and Peace Party to come up with such a wacky idea. The military has such a hold on the country because of his former political master. Now he's doing the same for the second round. The number of parties would be irrelevant if there is no fundamental change in political life of the people. U Nu and his party were spineless to stand up to Kyaw Nyein, Ba Swe and Ne Win's military machine. The scapegoats were the ethnic minorities. Even today, tell me what else has changed.
Thiha Thura, Sydney, Australia

Yes, Burma needs more political parties. If it has bigger parties it will be better since I don't want NLD to dominate political affairs of Burma. It could again lead to authoritarian rule. Thanks.
Winter Son, Mumbai, India

We need quality parties NOT quantity. We already have uncountable parties in Burma since 1989. For 52 millions people over hundreds of parties are more than enough, but we need parties who can take a real challengefor democracy in Burma.
Maung Myo, Australia

I think we don't need any more political party. Instead of it, we need new blooded, young, educated and clever politicians in the currently existing parties. We don't need old and un-useful guys in our country's future political environment.
Maung Aung Lwin, Rangoon, Burma

I do not think it is time to ask if Burma needs more political parties, it is time to support NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in their attempt to implement the results of unsettled 1990 elections.
Tin Win, Ota, Japan

No! Not now! Denying the rights of millions of Burmese people and the people's representatives are severely bad enough since 1990 elections, Burma does not need more parties. It may need only after democracy and constitution are established. Be united first!
Kelvin Saw, Rangoon, Burma

Yes, we need back up parties for democratic alliances in case the NLD is forced to dissolve by the military government. Take a look at Indonesia. We need back up and we need coalition to instigate civil disobedience nationwide so that peaceful demonstrations happen shortly.
Nay Thway, London, UK

What Burma needs is not the formation of new parties under military regime, but the implementation of people's aspiration: the eradication of military rule. The international communities as well as the United Nations must realize this aspiration. When the military rulers allowed formation of political parties in September 1988, a total of 236 parties registered. On the contrary, the regime has constantly denied freedom of expression and freedom of assembly by placing regulations that prevent all forms of political activities. The past 16 years has already shown the fact. Freedom of expression or freedom of assembly has nothing to do with formation of new parties, whether democratic or conservative.
Sai Carol, Mae Sod, Thailand

In every democratic country, there are more than one political party in the parliament. Having more than one party strengthens the democratic processes of the government. Now NLD is the only outstanding party in Myanmar and the race is like NLD vs. SPDC. If we have more than one outstanding political party against Junta, and if these parties all united to confront the military government and fight for the people, I believe that they would need to listen to the wish of the people. Having only one major political party means if that one party is tied up like now, we cannot do much to improve the situation. Moreover, more political parties of different ethnical background mean more representation of Burmese people. Burma definitely needs more political party representing various ethnic people.
Thet Naing, Rangoon, Burma

Burma, at the moment, does not need more political parties. Everyone against the military dictatorship could and should come together under one banner and fight in unity towards true democracy. The more parties there are the strength of each individual party will be weaker. Collectively we are stronger. Besides, SPDC is very good at divide and rule tactics. Once we get what we want (the democracy), we could improve ourselves and have our say constructively, through our own parties.
Khin Thitsar, Rangoon, Burma

I really agree with U Win Naing's view but not now because NLD won 82%of votes in 1990 election in Burma. NLD can draw constitution and make democratic process to govern to our country as well as to build up opposite political parties in Burma.
Bo Bo Win, Singapore

In my opinion, while there is no objection to revival of political parties, I have a question for the usage of so called national politician. Who made that kind of word for him or them? Are they doing national politics, NLD and other political groups in and out of Burma do politics for their own interests? It does not make any sense to classify the current political activists on basis of party politics or national politics. When I was in Burma, SPDC has brainwashed us that politics is very dirty and misled and that only they were doing national politics and on the other hand, NLD and other oppositions groups are either party-profit-driven politicians or insurgents. Therefore, if U Win Naing has named himself a national politician, he might be fallen into the SPDC's trap or echoing SPDC's voice. However, U Win Naing is, so far, doing right and walking on the right of way.
Precious, USA

Yes, it is really true. NLD party can’t build democratic country without the help of others.
Shwe Ba, Moscow, Russia

Yes, Burma needs more political parties to present feeling of Burmese people. But SPDC will not allow formation of more parties in Burma. The reason behind is that they want control over the political parties and make sure that only a few parties exist in the country. If they allow forming many parties in Burma it is not easy for them to control. Therefore I dare not hope that we will have real political parties in Burma in the near future although I do wish to see more and more.
Ko Ko Gyi, Singapore

Political parties and politicians in Burma were the tools of the military government when they play political circus in the East Asia and the world's stage. Politicians of Burma have been scarifying too long in prisons. Of course! There we need more political parties for Burma. Initially authorities have to allow all politicians to express their views as a fundamental practice of democratic system. SPDC should permit formation of political parties and allow all parties to practically implement democratic system in various ways instead of confining them in the jails. Politicians and political parties are “The light of the Burma”. Burma is going more and more to the darkness in the military government's hand.
J Moe, Singapore

In my point of view, I think we need more unity among the political parties we already have rather than forming more parties. Of course formation of more political parties is needed for future multi-party democratic Burma if people of Burma really show their commitment on this. It depends on the people.
Maung Sunil, Bago, Burma

To form more political parties in Burma is an unnecessary opinion right now because we already have enough parties for every indigenous group in Burma. But some of them have been banned by the military and the military government never recognizes them and allows their struggle for restoration of their rights. As everyone knows the situation in Burma is getting worse day by day because of bad political, economic, and educational system in Burma. Now you see, even a party called NLD can’t do anything because the military government is imposing restrictions on the party. That’s why I think the formation of more parties at this time is not good.
Arakan, Canada