Myanmar opposition readies for crucial plenary meeting

Myanmar opposition readies for crucial plenary meeting Yangon - More than 100 members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party gathered at their Yangon headquarters Monday for a plenary meeting held this week to set their stance on crucial issues such as the pending polls. Monday's meeting was in preparation for the plenary session Tuesday and Wednesday at which all members of the opposition will discuss the country's recently passed constitution, elections planned for 2010 and the future of democracy in the military-controlled nation, sources said.

"I cannot say if the NLD will participate in the 2010 general elections or not," NLD spokesman Nyan Win said.

The NLD, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, won the 1990 general election by a landslide but has been blocked from taking power for the past 19 years by Myanmar's ruling junta.

The military claimed that a new constitution was needed before a civilian government could rule the country.

A new constitution that guarantees the military control over any future civilian government was pushed through via a national referendum last year.

The NLD has called for amendments to the charter before new polls are held in 2010, claiming that in its current form an elected government will be under the thumb of the military.

"This meeting will try to get a unified opinion and define a unified outlook within the NLD," Nyan Win told the Mizzima news agency.

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