MILITARY BACKED PARTY BEGINS CAMPAI

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Subject: MILITARY BACKED PARTY BEGINS CAMPAIGNING

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Media Release - 17/99
March 17, 1999

MILITARY BACKED PARTY BEGINS CAMPAIGNING IN ABSENCE OF NLD

The political party supported by Burma's military junta has
commenced election campaigning.  

In early March 1999 the National Unity Party (NUP), formerly the
Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), commenced its campaign in
the wake of forced resignations and detention of numerous
National League for Democracy (NLD) Members of Parliament by the
junta. 

According to sources a former colonel and executive of the NUP,
Saw Kyaw Khin Win, met with NUP supporters in Kawkareik, Karen
State on March 4. He told the small gathering that the NLD had
become very weak following the mass resignations and that the NUP
must begin preparations for the next election, should there be
one. He also mentioned that party members should assist the
military regime, as considerable progress had been made during
its rule.

The BSPP was dismantled during the mass demonstrations in 1988
and a new political known as the NUP was established in its
place. As the state party, the BSPP's assets were the property of
the state.  However, contrary to the existing laws, the Burmese
military handed over BSPP finances, buildings and other important
materials to the NUP.  Despite the junta's 26-year period of
socialist rule and the NUP's backing from the military, however,
the party won only 10 seats in the parliamentary elections in
1990, while the NLD gained 392 seats.

The NUP contested and lost all 14 constituencies in Karen State.
Saw Khin Kyaw Win, who was an NUP candidate and former Chairman
of the Karen State BSPP, was defeated by an NLD candidate by a
large margin. The NLD candidate, Saw Chit Than, was forced to
resign from Parliament in early 1992. 

All Burma Students' Democratic Front

For more information please contact 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984