Myanmar democracy Aung San Suu Kyi shuns parliament
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Naypyitaw - Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyishunned her first day in Parliament Monday, refusing to swear therequired oath, while EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg decided tosuspend most sanctions on the former pariah state.
Suu Kyi and other elected members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) refused to attend their first scheduled day inParliament because of the requirement to swear to "safeguard" thecountry's military-friendly constitution.
The NLD won 43 out of 45 contested seats in the April 1by-election, but cancelled plans to attend the reconvening ofparliament after authorities refused to alter the oath from"safeguard" to "respect." Monday's resumption of parliament in Naypyitaw, 350 kilometresnorth of Yangon, came as the European Union announced it wassuspending all sanctions except for an arms embargo, to reward thecountry's democratic progress.
Over the weekend, the NLD petitioned President Thein Sein,currently in Japan, to change the wording, but on Monday he refused,telling reporters in Tokyo, "It depends on her (Suu Kyi's) decision,we are welcoming her." Amendments to the constitution must be backed by at least 20 percent of both the upper and lower houses to be proposed, and can onlybe adopted with 75 per cent of the votes in each of the three houses- lower, upper and regional.
The parliament is dominated by the pro-military Union Solidarityand Development Party (USDP), which won the November 7, 2010elections, and the military that controls 25 per cent through directappointees.
The USDP on Monday made clear that the party would not support anamendment to change the oath for incoming parliamentarians.
"I have no plan to change this wording in the oath because it isnot an important issue," USDP executive committee member Aung Thaungsaid.
For the NLD, amending the constitution is a political priority.The charter pushed through by a referendum in 2008 essentiallycements military rule over Myanmar.
One article allows the military to appoint 25 per cent of themembers in the three houses of parliament, giving them a veto.
"We are just sticking to our principles," NLD spokesman Nyan Winsaid. He pointed out that Thein Sein had this year approved changingthe wording of the oath in the Election Commission's regulations forregistering political parties.
The NLD has downplayed the apparent rift, saying the no-show atparliament is not intended as a boycott.
"I don't think Aung San Suu Kyi will stay away from parliament,"said Kwin Maung Swe, leader of the National League Force, abreakaway party from the NLD. "In the end, she will join." "They should compromise," Kwin Maung Swe said. "If they decide notto join the parliament, that would be completely wrong and it woulddisregard the wishes of the people." Diplomats in Yangon were unsure whether a face-saving compromisewould be reached in time.
"I don't think that just because of this the whole reconciliationprocess between the NLD and the president will fall apart, but younever know," said one European diplomat. "People are stubborn here."
