National League for Democracy Appeals to Next Generation of Activists

From our correspondent in Rangoon

Burma’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has announced new reforms that they hope will bring in a new generation of activists working for the restoration of democracy to Burma.

The new reforms come as a critical time for the organisation, which won 82 percent of seats in an election held in 1990, but was never allowed to take power. The party now faces being banned on May 7th after deciding not to register as a party under new election laws, which they claim are unjust.

“We will continue our struggle, whether or not the election commission declares us an illegal party, we will still be here,” said party spokesman Nyan Win Oo. “Therefore we continue the reforms that began with the new Central Committee. In order to appeal to our younger people we are lowering the minimum NLD membership age from sixty to fifty. Now young people will be able to play a fuller role in the struggle.”

However, the radical reforms have caused controversy among some members, who argue that having such young and inexperienced members could cause problems for the party. “Hot-headed youths could get us into trouble, we need calm people who respect authority and will wait and see what happens,” said one leader speaking off the record from his sick-bed.

Others have welcomed the reform as long overdue. “We must be practical,” said one CC member. “When the SPDC allowed us to reopen some offices it caused us major problems as in several places the local members were too old and ill to physically get to the office.”