Brunei People's Party

The Brunei People's Party ("Parti Rakyat Brunei, PRB") is a banned political party in Brunei.

PRB was established as a left leaning party in 1956 and aimed to bring Brunei into full independence from the United Kingdom. The party sought to democratise the government by shifting the national leadership from the palace to the people.

In 1961, PRB rejected the proposal for membership in federation with Malaysia, proposed by Malaya's Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman even though the government of Brunei was favourable to the federation. On January 12 1962, PRB leader A.M. Azahari was appointed to the Brunei Legislative Council and PRB won all 10 of the elected seats in the 21 seat legislature.Sejarah Indonesia : [http://www.gimonca.com/sejarah/sejarah09.shtml "The Sukarno Years"] . Retrieved 30 May 2006.]

The first meeting of the Legislative Council was schedule on December 5 1962 and PRB states that it will submit a resolution for the return of British North Borneo and Sarawak to Brunei in order to form an independent state known as the North Borneo Federation, the rejection of Brunei's entry into Malaysia and the independence of Brunei in 1963. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III rejected this proposed resolution and postponed the opening of the Legislative Council to December 19 1962.

PRB's role in the Brunei Revolt

On December 8 1962 an armed insurrection by the PRB now known as the Brunei Revolt led by Yassin Affandi broke out in Brunei and bordering areas of North Borneo and Sarawak. The insurgents were known as the "Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara" (TNKU) or North Kalimantan National Army and a few key towns were occupied by the TNKU. The Brunei police however remained loyal to the government and additional British troops landed from Singapore by the evening of the same day.

By December 9 1962, the insurrection was effectively broken when Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III declared PRB illegal and condemned the TNKU for treason although sporadic incidences continued to occur. The Sultan also publicly stated Brunei's intention not to join the Malaysian federation. The insurrection ended five months later with the capture of Yassin Affandi. PRB leader, A.M. Azahari, who was in Manila during the outbreak of the insurrection, fled into exile in Jakarta.

PRB in exile

On July 13 1973 PRB detainees who had refused to renounce the party staged an escape and reconstituted the party in exile. In December, an Ad Hoc Committee for the Independence of Brunei was established in Kuala Lumpur. Subsequently on May 7 1974, the PRB was formally reactivated with the naming of an executive committee with A.M. Azahari as president.

The PRB continued to garner international moral and material support throughout the 1970's and resulted in the United Nations General Assembly adopting Resolution 3424 that established principles of succession and legitimacy that any government established in Brunei should meet. However with Brunei's independence in 1984, the PRB remained outlawed and several detainees remained in custody.

Current status of PRB

PRB today is believed to be still operating in exile Link2Exports.com : [http://www.link2exports.co.uk/regions.asp?lsid=1970&pid=1273 "Brunei Country Profile"] . Retrieved 30 May 2006.] although it is most likely dormant World History Study Guide : [http://www.bookrags.com/history/worldhistory/parti-rakyat-brunei-ema-04/ "Parti Rakyat Brunei"] . Retrieved 30 May 2006.] .

In 12 September 2005, former political prisoner Sangkancil : [http://www.malaysia.net/lists/sangkancil/1999-04/msg00416.html "Joint Statement To Release Yassin Affandy"] . Retrieved 11 June 2006] and Secretary General of PRB, Yassin Affandi, co-founded the National Development Party Brunei Direct : [http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Sept05/130905/nite01_1.htm "On The Approval Of The Formation Of The Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (National Development Party)"] . Retrieved 11 June 2006] . The National Development Party [http://www.aspirasi-ndp.com/] is the third political party that is operating legally in Brunei to date.

References

ee also

* Brunei Revolt
* National Development Party

External links

* [http://www.aspirasi-ndp.com (In Malay)]
* [http://www.aspirasi-ndp.com/en/index.htm (In English)]