(clockwise) First row: U Lwin, U Aye Tha Aung, U Aung Shwe, U Than Tun, U Tin Oo,Second row: U Hla Pe, U Soe Myint, U Lun Tin, U Nyunt Wei, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
On Sept 16, 1998, the National League for Democracy (NLD) formed the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP,) after the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) failed to respond to renewed calls to recognize the results of the 1990 elections. The committee was chaired by Aung Shwe and had ten positions. The committee was supported by 251 parliament members, including MPs from other parties. The CRPP annulled all laws promulgated since Sept 18, 1998 and called for the release of all political prisoners. Dr Saw Mra Aung, 83, chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) and MP-elect from Arakan State, was elected as the People's Parliament president by CRPP. The SPDC immediately responded by arresting 110 NLD MPs and officials, including Dr Saw Mra Aung, who was detained from September 1998 to June 14, 2001. By the end of 1998, the SPDC had shut down 43 NLD offices, and has insisted on the dissolution of the CRPP as a pre-condition for the resumption of talks with the opposition. On Oct 23, 2002 the CRPP expanded its membership from 10 to 13 with new members representing three leaders from ethnic groups. (source: Irrawaddy)
Because sovereign power lies with the people and because the people have freely made their choice, the CRPP (a committee based on the consent of 433 elected representatives from 485 constituencies equaling over 89%) was formed. This reflects the great importance and need for the formation of a “Pyithu Hluttaw” in the minds of the elected representatives.
The following Parliamentary Committees were formed to attend to the affairs for which the Parliament is responsible until such time as Parliament is convened:-
1. Committee for Ethnic Nationalities Affairs.
2. Committee for Finance, Economy and Commerce.
3. Committee for Legal Affairs.
4. Committee for Education.
5. Committee for Health and Social Affairs.
6. Committee for Foreign Affairs.
7. Committee for Cultivators and Peasants Affairs.
8. Committee for Workers Affairs.
9. Committee for Parliamentary Affairs.
10. Committee for Defense.
For the Union of Burma to exist, unity must be nurtured and developed. Therefore U Aye Thar Aung, an ethnic peoples representative, the Secretary of the Arakan League for Democracy and Secretary of the CRPP took responsibility as Chairman of the Ethnic Nationalities Affairs and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi took responsibility as Secretary.
Of all the activities of the CRPP in the last two years the most outstanding achievement was the trust that has been developed and progressed between the Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Chin, Mon, Burman, Arakan and Shan.
The military dictators are envious of this achievement and have illegally condemned U Aye Thar Aung to 20 years imprisonment. This action of the military dictators is unjust, impaired and without any legal justification. It is an abuse of power. We announce that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will take on his responsibilities.
The country's political, economic, social, education, health and other conditions are deteriorating rapidly from day to day because the people's representatives who have been elected freely and fairly cannot meet and discuss the issues in a Peoples Parliament.
There is no way that these problems can be solved until a democratic government comes into existence through the convening of a parliament with representatives who have been elected by the free will of the people for the people. (excerpts from CRPP notification 18/2000-unofficial translation)
Currently, there are 18 members and they are
1. U Aung Shwe (NLD) - chairman
2. U Aye Tha Aung (ALD) - secretary
3. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (NLD) - member
4. U Tin Oo (NLD) - member
5. U Lwin (NLD) - member
6. U Loon Tin (NLD) - member
7. U Soe Myint (NLD) - member
8. U Than Tun (NLD) - member
9. U Nyunt Wei (NLD) - member
10. U Hla Pe (NLD) - member
11. U Khun Tun Oo (SNLD) - member
12. Naing Tun Thein (MNDF) - member
13. U Pu Cin Siang Thang (ZNC) - member
14. U Htaung Co Thang (UNLD) - member
15. U Soe Win (National Democracy Party) - member
16. U Kyaw Min (Human Rights and Democratic Party) - member
17. U Thein Pe, an independent candidate from Kantbalu, Sagaing - member
18. U Yang Kye Maw (Shan State Kokang Democratic Party) - member
Chairperson of CRPP
U Aung Shwe, Chairperson of the NLD
Constituency: Mayangone I, Rangoon Division.
U Aung Shwe graduated in Arts from Rangoon University in 1940. He served in the BIA, BDA and PBF from 1942 to 1945. In 1961 he was forced to retire from the Army while serving as the Commander of the Southern Military Command due to accusations that he was partial towards elections. He was appointed as the ambassador to Australia, Egypt, France, Spain and New Zealand from 1961 to 1975. During the 1990 election, he was the Chairperson of the POOL before the SLORC banned the party. While Daw Aung San Sliu K.yi and U Tin Oo were placed under house arrest he became the Chairperson of the NLD. He was among the NLD representatives who boycotted the National Convention on 28 December 1995.
Secretaries of CRPP
U Than Tun
Constituency: Taungtha 2, Mandalay Division
Year of birth: 1921
NLD Central Executive Committee member
U Than Tun was a member of the Myingyan Student Union during 1937 to 1941.
From 1942 to 1946 he worked for the BIA. He was also the Secretary of Myingyan District AFPFL from 1946 to 1953. He was elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1947 and later became a Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary. From 1953 to 1962, he was Secretary of the Trade Union Confederation of Burma. In 1964, he became a member ofBSPP. U Than Tun was among the NLD representatives who boycotted the National Convention in December 1995.
U Aye Thar Aung
U Aye Thar Aung represents the Shan National League for Democracy, Arakan League for Democracy, Mon National Democracy Front, and Zomi National Congress. He was born in Myaebon Township, Arakan State. He served as a Sergeant-Major and worked in Ka-Pa-Sa, the Heavy (Military) Industry Corporation. He was dismissed and imprisoned in Mandalay jail due to his underground political activities and released under amnesty in 1974. He is a member of Central Executive Committee of ALD. He is also a member of the ALD and UNLD Secretariats.
Members of CRPP
U Tin Oo (a) General Tin Oo (Retd.)
Deputy Chairperson, National League for Democracy
U Tin Oo was born in 1927 in Bassein, Irrawaddy Division. He was a general and the Defense Minister from 1974 to 1976. He was highly respected by the soldiers and the people, but was dismissed and imprisoned due to an accusation that he was involved in a coup attempt. He was released under amnesty in 1980 after which he studied and received a law degree. On 2 September 1988, he became the Vice-Chairperson of the NLD and on 20 December, the Chairperson of NLD. From 20 July 1989 he was put under house arrest and from 22 December 1989, he was imprisoned for three years.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
General Secretary, National League for Democracy
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was born in Rangoon. She was two when her father, considered the father of Burmese independence, was assassinated. She moved to India when her mother was appointed to be the Ambassador, and later continued her studies in the United Kingdom. After living abroad for many years, she returned to Burma in 1988 and became the figurehead of the Burmese democracy movement. She was one the co-founders of the NLD and became Secretary-General. She was placed under house arrest from 19 July '89 to 10 July '95. She has been awarded numerous prestigious prizes including Nobel Peace Price in 1991.
U Lwin (a) Colonel Maung Lwin (Retd.)
Treasurer, National League for Democracy
Constituency: Thongwa I, Rangoon Division
U Lwin was the former Deputy Prime Minister and a member of the BSPP State Council. He served in the BIA, BDA and PBF from 1942 to 1945. He completed military officers' training at the Japanese Royal Military Academy and he studied at the British Royal Military Academy from 1952 to 1954. He also served as the Military Attache to the USA.
U Hla Pe
Central Executive Committee, National League for Democracy
Constituency: Moulmeingyun I, Irrawaddy Division
U Hia Pe is a member of the Central Executive Committee of the NLD and is in charge of Irrawaddy Division. During the Parliamentary Democracy period, he was an elected Representative from Mawlamyine Gyunn Township from 1951 to 1961. He was the Secretary of the Township and Divisional AFPFL. In 1967, he worked as an officer at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and retired in 1986.
U Soe Myint (a) Thakhin Soe Myint
Central Executive Committee, National League for Democracy
Constituency: South Okkalapa Township I, Rangoon Division
U Soe Myint is a member of the NLD Central Executive Committee. He was one of the founders of the People's Revolutionary Party (PRP), which was one of the active organizations before Independence. He was the Secretary of Myaungmya Township Dobama Asiayone (We Burma Association) which was also a pro-independence, anti-Japanese organization. He was the Regiment Commander of BDA and the Chairperson of Myaungmya District Socialist Party.
U Lun Tin (a) Colonel Lun Tin (Retrd.)
Central Executive Committee, National League for Democracy
Constituency: Moulmein Township I, Mon State
U Lun Tin is a POOL Central Executive Committee member. On 9 October 96, he became a member of the NLD Central Executive Committee and was in charge of Mon State. He served in the BIA, BDA and PBF from 1953 to 1956. He was Regimental Commander of Brigade 7 and the Northwest Military Command. He was dismissed and imprisoned from 1965 to 1967 because of his involvement in the Monks' Strike. He served as Director-General of the Ministry of Industry I from 1978 to 1983.
U Nyunt Wei
Central Executive Committee (CEC), National League for Democracy
Constituency: Taungoo Township, Pegu Division
U Nyunt Wei, son of U Ba Swe won in Taungoo Constituency (No. 2) in 1990 General Election as NLD candidate with valid vote 20,401 of total vote cast. He was born on 14 November 1926, earned B.A. (Hons) in Economics and MA (Public Administration) from Harvard Universit, USA.
In 1947, he attended leadership training conducted by AFPFL for the purpose of preparation for gaining independence within one year. He was the University Student Union leader from 1947-52. He served in Central Statistical Organization (CSO) Economics Department Director, Director of Industrial Bank, Chief Manager of Agricultural Bank, Managing Director of Insurance Corporation from 1952 to 1986. He got superannuation retirement from Public service in 1986. He is currently serving as CEC of NLD.
Acronyms:
AFPFL = Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
ALD = Arakan League for Democracy
BIA = Burma Independence Army
BDA = Burma Defense Army
BSPP = Burma Socialist Program Party
PBF = Patriotic Burmese Force
POCL = Patriotic Old Comrades League
SNLD = Shan National League for Democracy
LTNLD = United Nationalities League for Democracy
ZNC = Zomi National Congress
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
http://www.ncgub.net/staticpages/index.php/CRPP