The National Democratic Force is a Burmese political party formed by former members of the National League for Democracy

National League for Democracy

The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...

 (NLD), who chose to contest the 2010 general election

Burmese general election, 2010

A general election was held in Burma on 2010, in accordance with the new constitution which was approved in a referendum held in...

 in Burma (Myanmar). The party's chairman is Than Nyein. Its headquarters are in Tamwe Township

Tamwe Township

Tamwe Township is located in east central Yangon, Myanmar. The township comprises 20 wards, and shares borders with Yankin township in the north, Thingangyun township and Mingala Taungnyunt township in the east, Bahan township in the west, and Mingala Taungnyunt township in the...

, Yangon

Yangon

Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...

.

The party was among three major parties running for constituencies nationwide. The other two were the National Unity Party

National Unity Party (Burma)

The National Unity Party is a political party in Burma . It was formed by the military junta as well as members of the Burma Socialist Programme Party to take part in the general election of May 27, 1990. The party was defeated by the National League for Democracy. NUP's headquarters are in Bahan...

 and the Union Solidarity and Development Party

Union Solidarity and Development Party

The Union Solidarity and Development Party , which was registered on 2 June 2010 by the Union Election Commission as a political party, is the successor to the Burmese government's mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association. It is headed by Burmese President Thein Sein and...

. NDF's adoption of the peasant bamboo hat, which is the traditional symbol of the National League for Democracy, created some controversy.

Policy platform

NDF is a social liberal party that seeks to promote individual freedoms and a market economy

Market economy

A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...

 with state regulation

Regulation

Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...

. The party supports civil and human rights

Human rights

Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...

 and believes that ethnic political issues should be resolved alongside democracy

Democracy

Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...

 and human rights

Human rights

Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...

 issues. The party encourages the development of civil society

Civil society

Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...

organisations.

Leadership

The party is run by its 15-member Central Executive Committee.

1. Dr. Than Nyein (Chairman)
2. Soe Win (Vice Chairman)
3. Dr. Hla Soe Nyunt (Vice Chairman)
4. Dr. Win Naing (Secretary)
5. Myint Thwin (Joint Secretary)
6. Myo Zaw Aung (Joint Secretary)
7. Kyi Than (Treasurer)
8. Dr. Than Win (Member)
9. Khin Maung Win (Member)
10. Sein Win (Member)
11. Thaung Tun (Member)
12. Myint Pe (Member)
13. Myint Ngwe (Member)
14. Kyaw Aung (Member)
15. Khin Waing Kyi (Member)

Dr. Than Nyein is brother in law of ex-premier Khin Nyunt.