NAYPYITAW — The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) said the National League for Democracy (NLD) government has not achieved any notable success two and half years into its administration.
Speaking to party supporters in Sagaing’s Tamu Township on Thursday as part of the election campaign, USDP chairman U Than Htay said: “Two and half years after it took the office, there is still no notably successful work that the government, which won in 2015 election, has done to win the trust of people.”
As the NLD government is not able to accomplish its administrative duties, it is complaining about the legacy left by previous government, and using the 2008 Constitution as an excuse to defend its shortcomings, said U Than Htay.
“Now the country is being managed by a party that includes democracy in its name, a party that puts democracy at the forefront. And people need to examine in which period they can make a decent living, which period is more peaceful, and which period has greater freedom of speech,” said U Than Htay in a live broadcast feed on social media.
NLD spokesperson Dr. Myo Nyunt defended that the NLD government could expel people’s fears to some extent, referring to people’s fear of the government while the country was under a repressive regime for decades.
He also touted the party’s efforts to fight widespread corruption in Myanmar, saying that the NLD government could greatly increase the health and education budgets unlike the previous government, and also keep the budget deficit low.
“The economy of our country is not normal. It was based on nepotism. There is a need to make radical changes to recover the economy,” he said.
U Thiha Thwe, a Yangon-based journalist, said that the NLD government could retain power despite various challenges over the past two and a half years, and also maintain its ties with Tatmadaw.
“Initially, it was not able to handle rule of law at all. But since U Win Myint took the presidency, it has started taking action. Though we are not seeing the results we desire, it is a good sign that a civilian president has started to handle corruption and the drug problem,” he said.
The NLD party must walk the walk to fulfill the expectations of the people rather than pointing a finger at the 2008 Constitution and the legacy of the previous government, said U Than Htay.
He said that his party is formed of Myanmar nationals, apparently referring to NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s late husband Michael Aris, who was a British citizen.
The NLD contested and won the 2015 general election with promises to bring about permanent peace, change the military-drafted 2008 Constitution, and promote the rule of law.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
