NLD Receives 400 Complaints Since Assuming Office

By Htet Naing Zaw 21 August 2017

NAYPYITAW — The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) has received some 400 complaints since it assumed office in April 2016 including against four regional and state chief ministers.

NLD central executive committee (CEC) member and leader of the party’s complaint committee Dr. Myo Nyunt told reporters on Monday he would investigate the four chief ministers, but refused to name them or provide further details.

There were no complaints against Union-level ministers, he said.

Of the 400 complaints, the body launched investigations into about 200 of the complaints and found 20 individuals guilty of misconduct. Punishments included warnings, fines, and expulsion from the party.

The other 200 were found to be “not valid” and did not warrant investigation, he added.

“A lot of complaints concern an arrogant or disdainful approach to the public, or the undesirable behavior of lawmakers in dealing with their peers and the party CEC,” said Dr. Myo Nyunt.

There were also complaints of disregard for party policies and chain of command, he added.

Dr. Myo Nyunt said his body is just a disciplinary committee, and therefore does not handle legal disputes that involve NLD party members or cases that call for an investigation of personal dossiers kept private by the party.

NLD spokesperson U Win Htein told The Irrawaddy that accusations of corruption were handed directly to the government anti-corruption commission.

According to U Win Htein, the Karenni State NLD executive committee has been reorganized with U Thaung Htay as the chairman, Daw Nan Htwe Thu as the vice chairperson and Dr. Aung Kyaw Htay as the secretary.

Former chairman Dr. Khin Sin Thu was purged from the state party leadership after she failed to register a candidate for the state parliament seat in the April by-election.