Former parliament speaker and Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) headman Shwe Mann confirmed on Monday that he and 16 other senior members were sacked from the party last week.

In a post on his Facebook page, Shwe Mann said that the move by the party’s current leadership would not deter him from engaging in active public service.

“Whether as a party member or non-party member, representative or non-representative, I will continue working in the interests of the people in accordance with my political beliefs,” he said.

As the chairperson of the Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission, a legislative oversight panel that he originally formed in 2011 and assumed leadership of earlier this year, Shwe Mann will head a faction of former USDP lawmakers regarded as close to the National League for Democracy-led government.

“I believe I will be able to effectively and accurately serve my role as the chairman of the commission alongside the government, parliament and the people in interest the country and people,” he said, noting that most of those expelled from the USDP are members of the panel.

Tin Maung Oo, a former member of the USDP’s Central Committee who was also dismissed from the party, told DVB that the decision didn’t come as a surprise.

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“We were already expecting this to happen. We will accept their decision and leave the party,” he said. “I served my role in the USDP with genuine good will and good intent. I have no [hard] feelings hearing this news, as I know I still have a chance to continue my role in national politics as a member of the commission.”

On Facebook, Shwe Mann suggested that remaining USDP members, the people of Burma, and concerned electoral bodies should assess whether the conduct of some individuals in the USDP leadership conformed to the existing laws and regulations.

Reporting by Shwe Aung