Calls for fair play as Myanmar's ousted parliament holds last session
Yangon (dpa) - Myanmar's outgoing parliament resumed Monday for its last legislative session, amid calls for the military-backed government not to cause difficulties for the incoming, former opposition National League for Democracy.
NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi was attending as representative of the seat she won in a 2012 by-election, but all eyes were on her as the leader of the incoming majority party after its election victory as she was mobbed by well-wishers outside parliament.
Under a 2008 clause in the constitution, the outgoing assembly legislates for several weeks after the election before the newly elected members take their place.
This unusual arrangement "is a matter of concern," Suu Kyi told reporters days before the election. "The whole picture might have changed completely, but still the present legislature will go on until the 31st of January at least," she was quoted as saying by Myanmar Now.
Experts were also concerned. "The retreating army can leave their stronghold filled with land mines," Khin Ma Ma Myo, executive director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security Studies, was quoted as saying by the report.
The parliament could fix aspects of the upcoming budget, for example allocating funds to military spending that would then not be available for other projects by the incoming NLD government, several reports said.
But - outgoing - Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann called for a dignified retreat by his ousted Union Solidarity and Development Party.
"Although we won't be coming back, we need to do our best to perform the responsibilities of lawmakers, truthfully and faithfully," he was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia.
"While we still have the chance, let's give our best for the people."
Suu Kyi has invited Shwe Mann, President Thein Sein and the chief of the army Min Aung Hlaing for talks. Shwe Mann was due to have his meeting with her on Thursday. The Nobel Peace laureate is constitutionally barred from becoming president, as her sons are British, not Myanmar nationals. She has said she will be "above the president" of the next government, but without providing details. Her party won enough votes in the November 8 polls to push through its choice for president and one of the two vice presidents.
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