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| Aung San Suu Kyi sticks to Burma parliament boycott | Aung San Suu Kyi sticks to Burma parliament boycott |
| (4 months later) | |
| Aung San Suu Kyi and the other newly elected MPs in Burma's leading opposition party boycotted parliament on Monday but party officials expect their dispute over the oath of office to be resolved soon. | Aung San Suu Kyi and the other newly elected MPs in Burma's leading opposition party boycotted parliament on Monday but party officials expect their dispute over the oath of office to be resolved soon. |
| The National League for Democracy objects to the oath saying they must "safeguard the constitution" when in fact they want it amended to reduce the military's power. | The National League for Democracy objects to the oath saying they must "safeguard the constitution" when in fact they want it amended to reduce the military's power. |
| The dispute comes as the European Union is expected to hold a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday to suspend most sanctions against Burma for a year while it assesses the country's progress toward democracy. | The dispute comes as the European Union is expected to hold a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday to suspend most sanctions against Burma for a year while it assesses the country's progress toward democracy. |
| The absence from parliament of Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 other elected lawmakers who won historic 1 April byelections had been expected. Her MPs say they will not attend until the dispute is resolved. | The absence from parliament of Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 other elected lawmakers who won historic 1 April byelections had been expected. Her MPs say they will not attend until the dispute is resolved. |
| Aung Suu Kyi's party wants the phrasing "safeguard the constitution" changed to "respect the constitution." The party says that phrasing was changed in the party registration law last year and other relevant laws should be changed as well. | Aung Suu Kyi's party wants the phrasing "safeguard the constitution" changed to "respect the constitution." The party says that phrasing was changed in the party registration law last year and other relevant laws should be changed as well. |
| Opposition lawmaker Ohn Kyaing confirmed the refusal to attend and no party members were present on Monday when the upper house began its session in the capital, Nyapyidaw. But Ohn Kyaing said he believed the issue would be overcome quickly because there was support within President Thein Sein's administration to change the oath. | Opposition lawmaker Ohn Kyaing confirmed the refusal to attend and no party members were present on Monday when the upper house began its session in the capital, Nyapyidaw. But Ohn Kyaing said he believed the issue would be overcome quickly because there was support within President Thein Sein's administration to change the oath. |
| Party officials have played down the problem, saying they still expect the MPs to attend the assembly, possibly this week or next. | Party officials have played down the problem, saying they still expect the MPs to attend the assembly, possibly this week or next. |
| The oath is in an appendix to the constitution and it is unclear whether it can be changed without the approval of 75% of parliament. | The oath is in an appendix to the constitution and it is unclear whether it can be changed without the approval of 75% of parliament. |
| The constitution automatically allocates 25% of parliamentary seats to unelected representatives of the military and Aung San Suu Kyi's party maintains this is undemocratic. | The constitution automatically allocates 25% of parliamentary seats to unelected representatives of the military and Aung San Suu Kyi's party maintains this is undemocratic. |
| It also bars people from the nation's presidency if they or any of their relatives are foreign citizens; that effectively prevents Aung San Suu Kyi from ascending to the presidency because she married a British national, Michael Aris, who died in 1999, and their two children were born abroad and do not live in Burma. | It also bars people from the nation's presidency if they or any of their relatives are foreign citizens; that effectively prevents Aung San Suu Kyi from ascending to the presidency because she married a British national, Michael Aris, who died in 1999, and their two children were born abroad and do not live in Burma. |
| Thein Sein has overseen a wave of political reforms since taking office a year ago, and analysts say his administration needs the opposition in parliament to gain international legitimacy. | Thein Sein has overseen a wave of political reforms since taking office a year ago, and analysts say his administration needs the opposition in parliament to gain international legitimacy. |
| The byelection's outcome, in which the opposition won almost all of the 45 seats up for grabs, was considered a major step toward reconciliation after decades of military rule in Burma. | The byelection's outcome, in which the opposition won almost all of the 45 seats up for grabs, was considered a major step toward reconciliation after decades of military rule in Burma. |
| Wooing Aung San Suu Kyi's party to rejoin politics after it boycotted the 2010 election was a key turning point in the government's campaign for western economic sanctions imposed during military rule to be lifted. | Wooing Aung San Suu Kyi's party to rejoin politics after it boycotted the 2010 election was a key turning point in the government's campaign for western economic sanctions imposed during military rule to be lifted. |
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