National League for Democracy
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The flag features a yellow 'dancing peacock', which has been a sign of freedom in modern Burmese history. |
The
National League for Democracy is a
Burmese political party founded on
27 September 1988. It is led by
Aung San Suu Kyi, who acts as General Secretary. In the
1990 parliamentary elections, the party won 406 out of 489 seats (83%), but the ruling
military junta formerly known as
SLORC, now
SPDC, did not let it form a government. NLD is a member of the
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGGUB).
The NLD is distinct from the NLD-LA (National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas), that operates in the Thai-Burma border areas as well as abroad, advocating the position of the NLD in calling for a tripartite dialougue between the SPDC, the NLD, and the ethnic minority groups.
In
2001, the government permitted NLD office branches to re-open throughout Myanmar. However, they were shut down or heavily restricted beginning
2004, as part of a government campaign to prohibit such activities. In
2006, many members resigned from
NLD, after alleged harassment and pressure from the
Tatmadaw (Armed Forces) and the
Union Solidarity and Development Association.
