The Burmese military government has claimed that more than 40 members of the National League for Democracy have recently resigned from the party, according to reports in the state-run media.

The New Light of Myanmar reported today that 12 NLD members, including the chairman and vice chairman from Tangyan Township in Shan State sent letters of resignation on April 30 to party headquarters in Lashio and to the Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-Commission.

Sai Hla Pe, a Central Executive Committee member of the Shan National League for Democracy, also submitted a letter of resignation to the Kyaukme Township Multiparty General Election Sub-Commission.

These recent resignations followed the previous announcement of more than 29 other NLD members from Kyaukse and Patheingyi townships in Mandalay Division who have reportedly left the party.

“Our office [NLD headquarters] has received no information on their resignations,” said NLD spokesperson Myint Thein. “We understand that they might have resigned to avoid being pressured [by the government].”

Win Mya May, a senior NLD member and organizer in Mandalay, said that now the junta has adopted a new way of exerting pressure on the group.

“Before, if people did not resign from the party, they threatened to arrest them,” said Win Mya Mya. “But now, they give them money or other valuables and ask them to resign.”

Maung Maung Win, a member of parliament, and Nyein Maung, an NLD organizer from Mandalay Division, both of whom had previously refused to resign, said that the government offered to give them as much as 100 million kyat, farm land and mobile phones if they would agree to step down.

The reported resignations follow a speech by Burma’s Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan on April 27, in which he claimed that the NLD was dedicated to a wrong commitment, through incorrect policy, and the people do not support them.