Positivity in Parliament despite Suu Kyi absence

MPs returned to Parliament in Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw this week for the first Parliament session since historic by-elections on the first of April. Noticeably absent was opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her fellow elected MPs from the National League for Democracy Party who chose not to attend the opening session due to a [...]

MPs returned to Parliament in Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw this week for
the first Parliament session since historic by-elections on the first
of April.

Noticeably absent was opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her
fellow elected MPs from the National League for Democracy Party who
chose not to attend the opening session due to a disagreement over the
wording of the oath MPs must swear before entering parliament.

Suu Kyi and the 42 other NLD members who were elected in the
by-elections would like the wording changed from “safeguard the
constitution, to respect the constitution”.
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.

But despite their protest their nonattendance does not appear to have
affected proceedings. The openeing session continued as normal but
with the addition of a larger press turn out than normal in the closed
off capital.Exiled media organisations previously banned from the
country were given permission to report inside the parliament for the
first time.

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