Forty-three members of Phakant Township National League for Democracy in Kachin State including vice-chairman U Maung Ko resigned from the party of their own volition. Six executives including the vice-chairman and 37 members sent the signed letters to NLD headquarters and local authorities. The 43 persons submitted their letters of resignation to Phakant Township Multi-Party Democracy General Election Sub-Commission in person at 10.50 am on 9 May.

Executive U Chit Htwe, on behalf of the 43, explained the purpose of their resignation, saying that they are disappointed with the NLD and lost interest in it due to its destructive acts for self-interest and grabbing power at the expense of others’ interest.

They have witnessed harmonious efforts of the people and the government working overtime for the progress of the nation and the people. They are now interested only in the national politics rather than party politics. They joined the NLD with the aim of doing clean politics and serving locals’ interest. The NLD first took part in the National Convention, the lifeblood for the emergence of a new constitution.

But it walked out of the Convention when all its demands for manipulation based on self-interest were not met. NLD did not attend the National Convention that resumed in 2004, although the government invited it. The NLD in collusion with some foreign nations and underground and aboveground saboteurs has been working against the national interest but for the good of the party and few people. The entire nation including Kachin State is enjoying peace thanks to the government’s policy of national reconsolidation. They resigned from the NLD that is crazed with self-interest for power.

U Mon Lin of Ayemyathaya Ward of Phakant in Mohnyin District, on behalf of the 43, submitted the letters of resignation to the chairman of Township MPDGESC. Chaired by U Maung Ko, the ceremony was also attended by officials and local authorities.