Tatmadaw is still needed: military MPs
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Lawmakers from the Myanmar Armed Forces, also known as the Tatmadaw, insisted that the Army had no intention to block constitutional changes. Yet, in a parliamentary debate with National League for Democracy's MPs on November 20, they said they didn't see
The debate took place after the Tatmadaw put a brake on the planned amendments on the military-drafter constitution. Key sections would then not be amended before the 2015 general election, which means opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains blocked from the presidential race.
“In our country, the parliament needs the Tatmadaw because the Tatmadaw was born simultaneously with the country’s independence,” said Defence Services Representative Col Saw Shwe said in the debtate.
Defence service representative Brig-Gen Tint Soe insisted that the army wanted to ensure smooth transition by putting a brake on the move.
Defence Services representative Col Khin Maung Tun mentioned that the charter would be amended at the appropriate time.
“The constitution is not perfect, but it is not required to amend it urgently,” the colonel said.
The issue was talk of the town last week. Suu Kyi herself, who will turn 70 next year, apparently accepted the fate.
Union Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said last week the process would proceed, while admitting that actual changes would not be materialised before the 2015 election.
Last week, Saw Hla Tun, the secretary of the Joint Parliamentary Bill Committee and also a member of parliament, submitted a bill to parliament that proposes holding a national referendum on the draft of the amended constitution.
“We (the parliament) will continue working within the legal framework to amend the charter,” he said. Many MPs have no doubt that the charter needs to be changed.. This is the time when we should be brave to change what should be changed and also be cautious in order to avoid mistakes," the MP urged.
