YANGON — Two outspoken lawmakers of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) were purged from the executive committee of their concerned party township chapter.
The decision was made during a central executive committee meeting of the party on Aug. 25. The two – Yangon regional lawmaker U Kyaw Zeya representing Dagon Township (2) and Upper House lawmaker Daw Thet Thet Khine representing Dagon Township – however, remain party members.
“Any party member has the right to disagree but they are not allowed to deviate from the policies and guidelines adopted by the party,” NLD spokesperson Dr. Myo Nyunt told The Irrawaddy.
“The two have faults in this regard and were disciplined accordingly,” he added.
The two lawmakers have been critical of the NLD-led government, which has garnered popularity with some voters.
In an interview with a local media agency in the second week of the August, Daw Thet Thet Khine voiced criticism of the government’s economic policy while speaking about the weakening kyat-dollar exchange rate and country’s declining exports.
The interview went viral on the social media and was shared by hundreds of thousands of netizens.
“I only want to work for the country. I will continue working in whatever capacity I am allowed,” Daw Thet Thet Khine told The Irrawaddy.
Dr. Myo Nyunt said that party leaders had verbally warned Daw Thet Thet Khine several times regarding her criticism of government policies.
“I have no comment. I was not warned in advance. They should have told me if I was doing something wrong,” said U Kyaw Zeya, who has been vocal in his criticism of the Yangon regional government’s urban planning.
Daw Thet Thet Khaing is a member of the Lower House’s Banks and Monetary Development Committee and U Kyaw Zeya is on the economic committee of the Yangon regional parliament.
“We have had numerous reports about their actions [deemed to violate party policies]. We waited to see if they would change but they didn’t so we terminated their duties,” said Dr. Myo Nyunt.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
