Changes in power begin taking shape

MYANMAR has undertaken a series of actions to ensure a smooth power transfer from the quasi-civilian government to the elected government.

Last week, representatives from the government held a first meeting with the victorious National League for Democracy in Nay Pyi Taw.

The government team comprised information minister Ye Htut, deputy director-general from the construction ministry Maung Maung Ohn and President's Office director Zaw Htay.

NLD chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi was accompanied by central executive committee members Win Htein, Myo Aung and Dr Aung Thu.

After the meeting, Ye Htut posted on Facebook: “Both sides discussed the details of mutual cooperation on the smooth transfer of power.”

In the November 8 election, the NLD secured 886 seats: 255 seats for the Lower House, 135 for the Upper House, 475 seats for region/state parliaments and 21 seats for ethnic representative positions.

The meeting followed talks earlier this month between Suu Kyi and former general Than Shwe, Commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, and President Thein Sein.

A parliamentary committee will be established to put in place a peaceful transfer of power to a new head of state. Union Minister Hla Tun will act as chairman of the committee, while Ye Htut will also join.

NLD central executive member Win Htain said the committee would begin work this week.

Suu Kyi last week also sent a message to a meeting of government employees that none would be fired unreasonably when the NLD-led government took control of power, “I am not interested in sacking government employees without reason. It will not benefit anyone. Anyone can [speak] openly. We will listen to them but we won’t agree to all they say. We need to try the best for others. All have to help to bring success. We cannot do it alone. I want to request to you that [you not] have jealousy over others. We have no time to dispute that he or she is from other groups. We will look at his or her ability only. We will try to [make] the best of it,” said Suu Kyi.

Government employees will also be allowed to change their departments, depending on their ability and skills. NLD is also pursuing peace with ethnic armed groups. It was involved in the formation of the framework for political dialogue. The framework was approved after the third meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee last week.

Representatives from the government, ethnic armed groups and political parties agreed to implement the political dialogue framework, which includes nine chapters.

Some points will be added to the approved framework if deemed necessary by the new government.

Committee representatives plan to hold the first round of formal dialogue in the second week of January 2016, and they have decided to invite 150 representatives each from government, the parliament, the military, ethnic armed groups as well as political parties. The committee will also invite 50 individual ethnic representatives and 50 other participants.

“We need time for negotiation because there have been some differences between the groups. Our limit is the time frame. Therefore, it is very important to hold a discussion within a short time. The approved framework aims to include the participation of all stakeholders,” said Hla Maung Shwe, a special adviser at the Myanmar Peace Centre.

Eight ethnic armed groups signed the National Ceasefire Agreement on October 15. There are moves to include another 15 groups in the process.

Marn Aung Pyay Soe, the vice-chairman of Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, said that the NLD government should give first priority to the return of the refugees in camps in Karen State when it takes office.

Saw Ye Naing Win, the chairman of Karen Democratic Party, said first refugees should be returned and then the government should establish the rule of rule of law and organise the return of seized farmland.