State Counsellor’s Office stresses need to amend 2008 Constitution
State Counsellor’s Office stresses need to amend 2008 Constitution
Myanmar Times, 20 Sep 2018
URL: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/state-counsellors-office-stresses-need-amend-2008-constitution.html
Myanmar's democratisation can only be achieved if the 2008 Constitution is amended step by step through negotiations, U Kyaw Tint Swe, minister of the State Counsellor’s Office, told parliament on Wednesday.
He said a stable and strong democratic transformation is necessary before the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government can bring about a federal union of which all citizens could be proud.
“Freedom, equality and mutual respect can be built among ethnic groups if a democratic federal union can be implemented,” he added.
He said he hoped that the goal of the peace process is to reach agreements on the establishment of a democratic federal union and the signing of a union agreement.
He stressed the importance of political dialogue to agree on basic principles included in the agreement.
He also said the Tatmadaw (military) has a key role in ensuring that such an agreement could be implemented.
“In pursuing a well-balanced peace process, many challenges need to be overcome,” he said.
The government will move forward in stages to achieve democratic norms and the establishment of a federal union, he said.
The current government has held three sessions of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, which produced 51 points of agreement. At the second session, points related to secession, such as the right to self-determination and the right for the states to draw up basic laws, were agreed to but omitted at the last minute, said U Kyaw Tint Swe.
“Although secession is important, it is more important for everyone to cooperate in building a federal union where secession is not necessary,” he said.
In his 50-minute presentation to parliament, U Kyaw Tint Swe also talked about the progress the government has made in education, health and law enforcement.
U Sai Thant Sin, Pyithu Hluttaw MP of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, said the presentation appeared like a campaign spiel as the November 3 by-elections approach.
“Such a presentation is aimed at wooing voters to support the ruling party,” he said. “You can think what you like, but they should not forget their pledges during the last elections.”
U Oo Hla Saw, Pyithu Hluttaw MP of the Rakhine National Party, also criticised the minister’s speech.
“Including unsolved problems in an important policy speech is trivialising these problems. I am dissatisfied, as the speech didn’t say anything about attaining peace and socio-economic development,” he said.
Telling the public through parliament about attempts to amend the constitution and other government programmes looks like a by-election campaign speech, said U Thein Tun Oo, USDP spokesperson.
He said a stable and strong democratic transformation is necessary before the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government can bring about a federal union of which all citizens could be proud.
“Freedom, equality and mutual respect can be built among ethnic groups if a democratic federal union can be implemented,” he added.
He said he hoped that the goal of the peace process is to reach agreements on the establishment of a democratic federal union and the signing of a union agreement.
He stressed the importance of political dialogue to agree on basic principles included in the agreement.
He also said the Tatmadaw (military) has a key role in ensuring that such an agreement could be implemented.
“In pursuing a well-balanced peace process, many challenges need to be overcome,” he said.
The government will move forward in stages to achieve democratic norms and the establishment of a federal union, he said.
The current government has held three sessions of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, which produced 51 points of agreement. At the second session, points related to secession, such as the right to self-determination and the right for the states to draw up basic laws, were agreed to but omitted at the last minute, said U Kyaw Tint Swe.
“Although secession is important, it is more important for everyone to cooperate in building a federal union where secession is not necessary,” he said.
In his 50-minute presentation to parliament, U Kyaw Tint Swe also talked about the progress the government has made in education, health and law enforcement.
U Sai Thant Sin, Pyithu Hluttaw MP of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, said the presentation appeared like a campaign spiel as the November 3 by-elections approach.
“Such a presentation is aimed at wooing voters to support the ruling party,” he said. “You can think what you like, but they should not forget their pledges during the last elections.”
U Oo Hla Saw, Pyithu Hluttaw MP of the Rakhine National Party, also criticised the minister’s speech.
“Including unsolved problems in an important policy speech is trivialising these problems. I am dissatisfied, as the speech didn’t say anything about attaining peace and socio-economic development,” he said.
Telling the public through parliament about attempts to amend the constitution and other government programmes looks like a by-election campaign speech, said U Thein Tun Oo, USDP spokesperson.