Myanmar Opposition, 88 Generation in Joint Push for Charter Changes


2014.02.10
myanmar-parliament-aug-2013.jpg Lawmakers attend a parliamentary session in Naypyidaw, Aug. 16, 2013.
AFP

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and a prominent civil society group agreed Monday to jointly push for amendments to the country’s military-written constitution in a bid to ensure full democracy and the formation of a federal union.

The bid by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party and the 88 Generation Students group came amid concerns over the slow progress—both within the government and legislature controlled by the ruling party—in bringing about the charter changes before crucial 2015 elections.

The constitution, which was written by the previous military junta in 2008, bars Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president. Ethnic groups, who complain that they do not enjoy adequate autonomy in their states, have proposed changes paving the way for a federalist government system.

88 Generation leader Jimmy Kyaw Min Yu said his group agrees with the NLD that Article 59F, which will bar Aung San Suu Kyi from making a bid for the presidency in the 2015 elections, should be amended.

He said clauses guaranteeing the military’s role in government should also be reviewed. The constitution guarantees the military a role in national politics and 25 percent of parliamentary seats.

In a joint statement, the NLD and 88 Generation—an organization born out of the 1988 pro-democracy movement crushed by the former junta—vowed to work together to bring about the constitutional changes in a bid to achieve “genuine democracy.”

“We have recently held meetings to increase our cooperation in solving the problems that have emerged during this important transition toward genuine democracy in Myanmar,” the statement said.

“We are announcing our intention to work together for constitutional amendments through fair and peaceful means, without losing sight of [the goals of] national reconciliation and a genuine democratic federal union.”

The two groups have separately been in the forefront of efforts to bring about democratic reforms over the last quarter century. They have been cooperating on an informal basis in pushing for reforms since the military junta gave up power in March 2011.

Leaders of the NLD and 88 Generation on Monday did not provide details on how they would push for constitutional changes, saying they would wait for a 31-member parliamentary panel to flesh out the proposed amendments.

Speaking at a press conference, Jimmy Kyaw Min Yu, an 88 Generation leader, said that the decision to combine forces was part of a bid by the two groups to safeguard the process of constitutional reform in the country.

“We promised in this statement to work on national reconciliation and we must [work together] to get it,” he said, adding that the two groups would remain independent of one another, but would unite in their aims.

“Another important thing is to ensure a real federal union … To work on getting these things, we must amend the 2008 constitution.”

Jimmy Kyaw Min Yu said the two groups would meet again “soon” to discuss proposed key changes to the charter.

Shared goals

He said 88 Generation had sent a statement to a parliamentary panel pointing out some basic constitutional provisions that should be amended.

“For instance, it was written in this constitution that sovereignty comes from the people. On the other hand, it was written that the military’s role must be the leading guide of the country’s politics. It is a total contradiction.”

Reports have suggested that 88 Generation and NLD might also pool their resources in the 2015 elections, including the possibility of the civil society group’s leaders running on NLD tickets.

But Jimmy Kyaw Min Yu said that it was too early to discuss the polls.

“Neither Daw [honorific] Aung San Suu Kyi or the 88 Generation leaders are thinking about 2015 yet. We have only been thinking about 2014 these days,” he said, adding that the most important goal of the year was “to amend the 2008 constitution.”

The Irrawaddy quoted Nyan Win, a member of the NLD’s central executive committee, as saying that it was natural for the groups to work together as they share the same goal.

“We can’t still talk about detailed planning because we have to wait and see what the Parliament’s review committee for the Constitution does, and what the Union Parliament will decide for this,” he said.

A 109-member committee said it had received more than 28,000 letters of suggestions from political parties, civil societies, government institutions—including the military—and legal experts, with a majority supporting changes to the charter.

Sources said the panel, which was set up by the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)-dominated parliament, also received a petition with more than 100,000 signatures from USDP members opposing the amendments.

New committee

A new 31-member implementation committee has now been formed by parliament to decide what specific provisions in the constitution should be changed.

The USDP holds 11 seats on the committee, while the military has seven and the NLD has two.

The remaining seats are held by either smaller opposition or ethnic parties.

The Myanmar Times on Sunday quoted Aung San Suu Kyi as backing the formation of the new committee, despite complaints from smaller parties that missed out on representation.

“It is better to form a small committee. I thought it would be better if it [was] even smaller [than 31 members]. The most important thing is that the committee is workable, not how many members it has,” Aung San Suu Kyi said.

“In the end, all MPs will decide [whether to approve the amendments]. When that happens everyone should be able to discuss their views openly in parliament.”

Reported by Win Naing for RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

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