Can Burma’s President take part in current row over the oath?
By Zin Linn Apr 24, 2012 9:16PM UTC
People of Burma reach at another
political crossroads at this time. It is an excited moment for many
citizens who hope for emergence of Democracy. The case is that the
National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi did not
attend on 23 April re-opening of Burma’s parliamentary session by
reason of a row over the oath of office for representatives-elect.
Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the NLD,
was along with 43 parliamentarians elected from her National League for
Democracy (NLD) party in April by-elections. The NLD’s MPs want to take
oath using the word “respect”, rather than the wording of “safeguard”
the constitution, which they state is undemocratic.
On 4 November 2011, Burma’s President
Thein Sein had signed an amendment law on political parties in an
obvious effort to persuade National League for Democracy party led by
democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi to reregister as a party recognizing the
new political structure.
Burma’s state-run TV and newspaper
publicized on 6 November, 2011 that President Thein Sein has signed a
law that amends three key areas of the Political Party Registration Law.
Both houses of the Burmese Parliament had earlier endorsed the
amendments.
In the previous law the wording said that
all political parties must “protect” the State’s Constitution. In the
amendment law the word “safeguard” was changed to “respect and abide”
the Constitution.
According to the new law, previous two
clauses were also changed. One clause said that serving prisoners are
restricted from being a member of a political party and another clause
said that a political party needs to contest in three parliamentary
seats at least in an election.
At that time, analysts believe that the
aim of amending the law is to pave the way for the National League for
Democracy reregistering as a legal party. According to those amendments
on political parties, the NLD took part in the April 1 by-elections that
was the first electoral contest of its public reputation within a
two-decade time.
President Thein Sein government seems to
take advantage of bringing Suu Kyi and her party back into the current
parliamentary structure which would make the government healthier
authenticity at home and overseas.
However, Aung San Suu Kyi and members of
her NLD party skipped their first appearance in parliament amid a row
over a fidelity oath on 23 April. The National League for Democracy
(NLD) has objected to the oath that requires parliamentarians swearing
to safeguard the country’s constitution. Instead, it was set to respect
the charter, which however gives surety of military domination in
parliaments.
Suu Kyi has said one of her priorities as
an elected parliamentarian is to advocate an amendment of the 2008
constitution, under which 25 per cent of the parliament seats are
reserved for unelected military officials.
In frequent media interviews, Suu Kyi
expressed her aspiration to work together with the new government to
push for some changes to help the people of Burma. Well-informed sources
close to the government said that the government wanted Suu Kyi and
members of her party in parliament to give itself legitimacy.
Most Burma watchers believe that the
participation of 43 NLD legislators, including Suu Kyi in the existing
parliament, would definitely improve the military-dominated government’s
image and legitimacy.
But, there are some concerns among the
public because of ruling party’s general secretary Htay Oo’s comments
that it’s unnecessary to change the wording “respect” instead of
“safeguard”.
Suu Kyi and 42 other elected lawmakers
from her party were absent as the latest assembly session got under way
in the capital, Naypyitaw, on Monday. The party had said it would not
join until the oath issue was resolved.
Opposition spokesman Nyan Win told ‘The Associated Press’ that he believed the dispute would be solved within 10 days, and other party officials have said there is support within President Thein Sein’s government to change the oath.
The party was “not disappointed” with its current inability to sit in the legislative body, Nyan Win said. “We are cooperating with the government, so the problem will be overcome.”
Meanwhile in Luxembourg on Monday, the EU announced the suspension of most sanctions except an arms embargo against Myanmar for one year while it assesses the country’s progress, AP News said.
Hkun Tun Oo, a senior Shan ethnic
politician who released from jail in January, told The Associated Press
the EU’s temporary suspension was the right move “because if things do
not improve within a year, sanctions can be renewed.”
Analysts believe that Thein Sein knows
well about Suu Kyi’s clout on the Western democracies and realize her
contribution as essential, since Burma has been preparing to take ASEAN
Chair in 2014, and it has also been trying entire ending of Western
sanctions that hindering the country’s economic development since 1988.
If President Thein Sein ardently desired
to pursue the irreversible democratic path, it would be his duty to act
as mediator between his ruling party and the NLD chaired by Suu Kyi.
Even though current wording deadlock for oath look like a row, as
mediator, President has responsibility to address it.
In fact, he himself has signed a law that
amends three key areas of the Political Party Registration Law last
year. In the revision law the word “safeguard” was changed to “respect
and abide” the Constitution
Posted by BCJP
on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Filed under
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