Thein Sein urged to hold talks as soon as possible

The meeting will be attended by the president, the lower house speaker, the upper house speaker, the chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD), a representative for all ethnic groups and the commander-in-chief of the defence services. They will brainstorm on how to make the Constitution more applicable to the current state of affairs in Myanmar.

In the letter dated January 22, Thura Shwe Mann believed that the meeting would help produce stability, peace, national reconciliation and democratic reform and must therefore be held at the earliest possible date.

Earlier this week, President Thein Sein sent a message to the parliament responding to the proposal to hold six-party talk, saying: “Such a meeting would be good as long as it represented all people, including civic organisations and political forces." 

Some have interpreted the president's prioritisation of inclusiveness as a way of postponing the six-party meeting. 

Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of National League of Democracy (NLD), said she would not accept any meetings that are put on just for show. She said she would only accept genuine talks and continue to push for national reconciliation.

MP Myint Tun from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) submitted an urgent proposal to the Union parliament on November 25 calling for a six-party talk between the president, the Lower House speaker, the Upper House speaker, the chairperson of the National League for Democracy, the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services and an MP representing all ethnic groups.