By Ko Myo / MPA
YANGON, Myanmar — The National League for Democracy (NLD) has issued a firm policy statement declaring that no political resolution to Myanmar’s post-coup conflict can succeed without the direct, active participation of ousted State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and legally elected political representatives.
The statement, released by the NLD Central Working Committee on Monday, 20 July 2026, welcomed constructive international peace efforts led by the United Nations, ASEAN, and partner nations, specifically reaffirming ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as the foundational framework for resolving the crisis.
The NLD emphasized that any credible political transition requires an immediate end to violence against civilians, the unconditional release of all political prisoners—including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi—and unhindered humanitarian access across the country.
“Any political process that excludes representative political and ethnic forces, including the NLD—which won an overwhelming mandate from the sovereign populace in the 2020 general elections—and its leader, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, will struggle to gain the trust and cooperation of the public,” the central committee stated.
Addressing ASEAN’s regional diplomacy, the NLD noted that while direct engagement could pave the way for a practical solution, regional leaders must exercise caution to avoid legitimizing any administrative bodies stemming from the junta’s proposed sham elections.
The party maintained that the continued detention of democratic leaders remains the primary obstacle to peace, arguing that a conducive environment for dialogue can only be established once political figures are granted total freedom to participate in national negotiations.
Reaffirming its long-standing political ideology, the NLD noted that political crises must be resolved through political means, emphasizing its enduring policy of negotiated political dialogue.
The statement concluded by highlighting the root cause of the current conflict: the military’s illegal February 2021 coup, which forcibly overturned the overwhelming democratic mandate of the 2020 general elections in direct defiance of the sovereign public will.
