USDP committee begins review of all constitutional drafts since 1947
USDP committee begins review of all constitutional drafts since 1947
Eleven Newsmedia, 12 Sep 2013
URL: http://elevenmyanmar.com/politics/3388-usdp-commit
The central executive committee of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party has begun making observations on all previous drafts of the Constitution—including the 2008 Constitution—as part of measures to amend necessary clauses prescribed in 2008, said Htay Oo, vice-chairman of the ruling party.
The ruling party has had several discussions on whether some clauses of the 2008 Constitution are applicable to the current situation in Myanmar. With the hope of providing better constitutional amendments, the parliament-formed Constitution Review Joint Committee will hold a paper-reading session, said Htay Oo.
“We will place special emphasis on the constitutional amendments based on the paper-reading session. We need to study all clauses in the constitutions, starting from the 1947 version to the 2008 version. For this purpose, the CEC members are themselves observing the requirements,” said Htay Oo, adding that the majority would consider what to do next depending upon the outcome of the paper-reading session.
The constitution review joint committee includes 109 members with proportional representation of MPs from both Houses, political parties, military MPs and individuals. Of this number, 52 members are from the ruling party while 25 are military MPs.
Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann was named chairman of the committee and Deputy Speaker Nanda Kyaw Swar vice-chairman. Both are from the ruling party.
The committee will submit a report of its findings to the Union Assembly parliament before December 31. The committee will stand down once the report of its findings has been submitted to parliament.
The Opposition, led by Lower House MP Aung San Suu Kyi, has also formed the Constitution Amendment Committee, which meets with representatives from ethnic parties every Saturday.
The ethnic groups say they will stand by their drafted constitution not only inside parliament but outside as well if the government calls a Panglong-like conference.
The ruling party has had several discussions on whether some clauses of the 2008 Constitution are applicable to the current situation in Myanmar. With the hope of providing better constitutional amendments, the parliament-formed Constitution Review Joint Committee will hold a paper-reading session, said Htay Oo.
“We will place special emphasis on the constitutional amendments based on the paper-reading session. We need to study all clauses in the constitutions, starting from the 1947 version to the 2008 version. For this purpose, the CEC members are themselves observing the requirements,” said Htay Oo, adding that the majority would consider what to do next depending upon the outcome of the paper-reading session.
The constitution review joint committee includes 109 members with proportional representation of MPs from both Houses, political parties, military MPs and individuals. Of this number, 52 members are from the ruling party while 25 are military MPs.
Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann was named chairman of the committee and Deputy Speaker Nanda Kyaw Swar vice-chairman. Both are from the ruling party.
The committee will submit a report of its findings to the Union Assembly parliament before December 31. The committee will stand down once the report of its findings has been submitted to parliament.
The Opposition, led by Lower House MP Aung San Suu Kyi, has also formed the Constitution Amendment Committee, which meets with representatives from ethnic parties every Saturday.
The ethnic groups say they will stand by their drafted constitution not only inside parliament but outside as well if the government calls a Panglong-like conference.