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Aung San Suu Kyi's parliamentary debut in doubt over oath standoff Aung San Suu Kyi's parliamentary debut in doubt over oath standoff
(about 4 hours later)
Aung San Suu Kyi's planned debut in Burma's parliament next week could be shelved amid a standoff between her party and the government over one word used in the swearing-in oath for new lawmakers. Aung San Suu Kyi's planned debut in Burma's parliament next week could be shelved amid a standoff between her party and the government over one word used in the swearing-in oath for new parliamentarians.
Newly elected MPs from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party see the oath in its present form as a potential hurdle in plans to make an impact in a legislature dominated by the military, and refuse to sit in the chambers until it is changed. Newly elected MPs from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party see the oath in its present form as a potential hurdle for plans to make an impact in a legislature dominated by the military, and refuse to sit in the chambers until it is changed.
Top NLD official Nyan Win travelled to the administrative capital, Naypyidaw, on Thursday to try to convince election officials and legislators to change the vow from "safeguard the constitution" to "respect the constitution" but, it appears, without success.Top NLD official Nyan Win travelled to the administrative capital, Naypyidaw, on Thursday to try to convince election officials and legislators to change the vow from "safeguard the constitution" to "respect the constitution" but, it appears, without success.
The NLD's demand puts it on a collision course with other lawmakers and the reform-minded former generals in government, who want Aung San Suu Kyi in parliament to boost its credibility, but may not give in easily to its demand. The current lower house session is due to resume on Monday, with or without the new NLD MPs. The NLD's demand puts it on a collision course with other politicians and the reform-minded former generals in government, who want Aung San Suu Kyi in parliament to boost its credibility, but may not give in easily to its demand. The current lower house session is due to resume on Monday, with or without the new NLD MPs.
"The chairman of the Election Tribunal explained to me … this sort of oath has to be taken by parliamentarians at all parliaments across the world," Nyan Win said after his visit to Naypyidaw. "The chairman of the election tribunal explained to me … this sort of oath has to be taken by parliamentarians at all parliaments across the world," Nyan Win said after his visit to Naypyidaw.
He said he would convey the message to Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD would likely make an announcement soon about its next step. He said he would convey the message to Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD would probably make an announcement soon about its next step.
Earlier on Thursday, Aung San Suu Kyi had played down the standoff, expecting the government, for the good of democracy, to bow to her party's demands.Earlier on Thursday, Aung San Suu Kyi had played down the standoff, expecting the government, for the good of democracy, to bow to her party's demands.
"We don't mean we will not attend the parliament, we mean we will attend only after taking the oath," she said during her weekly address on Radio Free Asia."We don't mean we will not attend the parliament, we mean we will attend only after taking the oath," she said during her weekly address on Radio Free Asia.
"Changing that wording in the oath is also in conformity with the constitution. I don't expect there will be any difficulty in doing it.""Changing that wording in the oath is also in conformity with the constitution. I don't expect there will be any difficulty in doing it."
Aung San Suu Kyi carries immense political clout and her house debut was due to take place on the same day that the European Union was expected to announce the suspension of some sanctions, as she advocated last Friday. The US and Australia are expected to follow suit in the coming months.Aung San Suu Kyi carries immense political clout and her house debut was due to take place on the same day that the European Union was expected to announce the suspension of some sanctions, as she advocated last Friday. The US and Australia are expected to follow suit in the coming months.
At the heart of the issue are her plans to push to amend the constitution to eventually cut the military out of politics. The constitution grants the armed forces a quota of ministerial portfolios and 25% of seats in all legislative chambers.At the heart of the issue are her plans to push to amend the constitution to eventually cut the military out of politics. The constitution grants the armed forces a quota of ministerial portfolios and 25% of seats in all legislative chambers.
Aung Suu Kyi won a place in the lower house when the NLD won 43 of 45 available seats in a historic 1 April byelection, thrashing President Thein Sein's ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, the dominant force in the legislature. Aung Suu Kyi won a place in the lower house when the NLD won 43 of 45 available seats in a historic 1 April byelection, thrashing President Thein Sein's ruling Union Solidarity and Development party, the dominant force in the legislature.
Thein Sein has offered olive branches to the opposition that was persecuted by the regime he was part of and for years hobbled its attempts to establish the military dominated political system now in place. Thein Sein has offered olive branches to the opposition, which was persecuted by the regime he was part of and for years hobbled its attempts to establish the military-dominated political system now in place.
He has yet to respond to the NLD's request and may not have the political will, or the executive power, to make the change.He has yet to respond to the NLD's request and may not have the political will, or the executive power, to make the change.
But the issue could drag on for several months and some lawmakers say a house vote might be required. But the issue could drag on for several months and some lawmakers say a house vote may be required.
"The government may be in dilemma. They want to sort out this issue as soon as possible so that Aung San Suu Kyi can attend, but legally it is not that easy to change the wording," said a lower house parliamentarian, requesting anonymity. "The government may be in a dilemma. They want to sort out this issue as soon as possible so that Aung San Suu Kyi can attend, but legally it is not that easy to change the wording," said a lower house parliamentarian, requesting anonymity.
Aung Thu Nyein, a senior associate with the Vahu Development Institute, a Burmese thinktank, said the NLD's demand may not sit well with the more than 600 other lawmakers, who might block moves to change the oath and force the party back on to the sidelines. Aung Thu Nyein, a senior associate with the Vahu Development Institute, a Burmese thinktank, said the NLD's demand might not sit well with the more than 600 other parliamentarians, who might block moves to change the oath and force the party back on to the sidelines.
"The NLD should see the bigger picture," he said. "The government has already made concessions in letting them run during the elections and more, so the NLD should focus on comprehensive political and economic reforms instead."The NLD should see the bigger picture," he said. "The government has already made concessions in letting them run during the elections and more, so the NLD should focus on comprehensive political and economic reforms instead.
"If other parliamentarians block such actions the NLD will be back to square one," he added."If other parliamentarians block such actions the NLD will be back to square one," he added.