Feb 13, 2009 (DVB), National League for Democracy members in Rangoon, Mandalay and Magwe divisions and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held celebrations yesterday to mark Union Day.

At the party headquarters in Rangoon, NLD leaders gave speeches and the party also renewed its call for the release of political prisoners.

The party released a statement signed by members of the central executive committee, veteran political, party members and invited guests which called for the release of political prisoners, the re-opening of NLD offices and to allow outlawed parties to register.

Reporters and diplomats from foreign embassies also attended the ceremony.

In Mandalay, the ceremony was attended by party members from Singu, Madaya, Pyin U Lwin, Amarapura, Myittha and Meiktila.

Mandalay NLD leaders also went to visit victims of the fire on 9 February that destroyed over 300 homes and left more than 1000 people homeless.

Another ceremony was held at Yanangyaung in Magwe division in honour of the day.

The authorities monitored the ceremonies but did not harass NLD members who attended the events.

A commemorative ceremony was also held in Kuala Lumpur by the NLD-Liberated Area, according to the branch’s chair Kyaw Kyaw.

Union Day commemorates the signing of the Panglong Agreement in 1947, which united the Burman people with other ethnic groups in their struggle for independence.

Reporting by Aye Nai and Ahunt Phone Myat