National Democratic Force

The National Democratic Force (NDF) was founded in June 2010 by Khin Maung Swe, Than Nyein, Thein Nyunt, and Win Naing, all of whom were prominent members of the NLD. They formed the party after the NLD executive committee refused to register with the Union Election Commission (UEC) and announced the NLD's intention to boycott the 2010 general election.{{cite news |author= KYAW THEIN KHA|title=Breakaway Party Accuses NLD of Interference |url=https://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=18753 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=www2.irrawaddy.com}}

The NDF was among the three political parties, together with the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National Unity Party (NUP), to stand in the 2010 general election on a nationwide basis.{{cite web |url=http://mmtimes.com/2010/news/536/news009.html |title=Election to be three-horse race: NPA |publisher=Mmtimes.com |access-date=15 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416174013/http://www.mmtimes.com/2010/news/536/news009.html |archive-date=16 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

The NDF's adoption of the peasant bamboo hat, which is a symbol traditionally used by the NLD, created some controversy. After the 2010 election, Thein Nyunt and Kyi Myint, members of the Pyithu Hluttaw, and Phone Myint Aung, a member of the Amyotha Hluttaw, split from the party and set up the New National Democracy Party.

In December 2011, another member of the Amyotha Hluttaw Myat Nyana Soe, resigned from the party and joined the NLD.[http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/4082-nld-branches-join-row-over-party-emblem.html NLD branches join row over party emblem] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816065227/http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/4082-nld-branches-join-row-over-party-emblem.html|date=16 August 2010}} After the 2012 by-elections, two NDF MPs, Than Win and Khin Maung Win, also rejoined the NLD.{{cite news|url=http://mizzima.com/news/by-election-2012/6922-ndf-mps-rejoin-nld.html|title=NDF MPs rejoin NLD|date=9 April 2012|publisher=Mizzima|access-date=9 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409210304/http://mizzima.com/news/by-election-2012/6922-ndf-mps-rejoin-nld.html|archive-date=9 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}

Party co-founder Than Nyein died of liver cancer at Pinlon Hospital in Yangon on 21 May 2014.{{cite web|title=NDF Founder Dies of Liver Cancer|url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/ndf-founder-dies-liver-cancer.html|website=www.irrawaddy.org|date=21 May 2014 |publisher=Kyaw Hsu Mon|access-date=2 July 2014}}

The NDF contested 275 constituencies in the 2015 general election, but failed to win a single seat.{{cite news|title=Parties|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/election-2015/parties.html|access-date=18 November 2015|publisher=The Myanmar Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117184337/http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/election-2015/parties.html|archive-date=17 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}

In the aftermath of the military coup on 1 February 2021, the NDF collaborated with the new military junta, and party chairman Khin Maung Swe accepted a position in the State Administration Council.{{cite news |date=18 May 2021|title=US Slaps Sanctions on More Myanmar Junta Members, Ruling Body|url=https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/us-slaps-sanctions-on-more-myanmar-junta-members-ruling-body.html |work=The Irrawaddy }}

The NDF claims to be a social liberal party that seeks to promote individual freedoms and a market economy with state regulation.{{cite news |title=National Democratic Force (NDF) Presents Its Policy, Stance And Work Programmes |url=https://www.gnlm.com.mm/national-democratic-force-ndf-presents-its-policy-stance-and-work-programmes/ |access-date=8 February 2021 |work=Global New Light Of Myanmar |date=17 September 2020}} The party has stated that it supports civil and human rights, the resolution of ethnic political issues, and the development of liberal democracy and civil society organisations in Myanmar.{{cite web|title=250 political parties|url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/election/political-parties/250-political-parties.html|publisher=The Irrawaddy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104022451/http://www.irrawaddy.org/election/political-parties/250-political-parties.html|archive-date=4 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}

However, in the recent years, the NDF has grown close to the military-backed USDP.{{cite news|url=http://mizzima.com/article/commander-chief-guardian-nation-says-usdp|title=Commander-in-Chief is the guardian of the nation, says USDP|date=19 August 2020|publisher=Mizzima|author=Aung Myat Thu}} The party has been described as nationalist{{cite news |last1=Win |first1=Swe |title=Myanmar public dismisses Buddhist nationalism with a ballot |url=https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/myanmar-public-dismisses-buddhist-nationalism-with-a-ballot |access-date=17 March 2021 |work=Myanmar Now |date=19 November 2015 |language=en}} and some of its prominent members have expressed their support for the ultranationalist Ma Ba Tha organization.{{cite news|url=https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/why-meikhtila-went-green-how-usdp-won-in-a-traumatised-city|title=Why Meikhtila went green - how USDP won in a traumatised city|date=24 November 2015|publisher=Myanmar Now|author=Phyo Thiha Cho}}{{cite news|url=http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/features/2015-top-25-most-influential-people|title=2015: The top 25 most influential people|publisher=Frontier Myanmar|date=31 December 2015|access-date=23 November 2020|archive-date=25 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074027/https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/features/2015-top-25-most-influential-people|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/19118-nationalists-plan-rally-to-protect-59-f.html|title=Nationalists plan rally to 'protect' 59(f)|first=Aung Kyaw|last=Min|date=23 February 2016 }} The NDF also backs the State Administration Council, the military junta which seized power in the aftermath of the 2021 military coup.

• Than Nyein, Chairman of the Central Executive Committee (2010–2014)
• Khin Maung Swe Chairman of the Central Executive Committee(2014-2021)
• Win Naing Chairman of the Central Executive Committee(2021)
• Kyaw Thu Ya, Central Youth Leader (2012–2015)
• Kyaw Htet, Cnetral Youth Leader(2015-2019)

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Category:2010 establishments in Myanmar

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