Tin Mya of the Union Solidarity and Development Party submitted amendments to the body but Speaker Khin Aung Myint said the proposal will be kept only as a record after some MPs raised their objection.
The Burma Citizenship Law, enacted in 1982 , categorises citizen, associate citizen, naturalised citizen and foreigner.
The 20-year-old law also provides guidelines on those who can apply for naturalised
citizenship including those with a foreign parent as long as the other parent is a citizen.
The 1982 law, enacted by former military ruler Ne Win, recognises the 135 national races in Burma but specifically excludes the Rohingya. It replaced the 1948 citizenship act, which stipulates that any person who has resided in Burma for more than two generations is entitled to citizenship.
The legislation has been widely condemned as incompatible with international human rights standards, including the right to a nationality. Amnesty International has previously slated the law for its “over-burdensome requirements for citizenship” and its “discriminatory effects on racial or ethnic minorities particularly the Rakhine [Arakanese] Muslims.” Rohingya are denied basic civic rights, such as access to health and education.
“My grandfather was a Burmese parliamentary secretary, how can I not qualify for citizenship?” asked Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) and a stateless refugee living in London, during an interview with DVB.If the new citizenship law was not firm, the people in Rakhine State will suffer, warned MP Kyaw Kyaw, who was one of those who objected.
citizenship including those with a foreign parent as long as the other parent is a citizen.
The 1982 law, enacted by former military ruler Ne Win, recognises the 135 national races in Burma but specifically excludes the Rohingya. It replaced the 1948 citizenship act, which stipulates that any person who has resided in Burma for more than two generations is entitled to citizenship.
The legislation has been widely condemned as incompatible with international human rights standards, including the right to a nationality. Amnesty International has previously slated the law for its “over-burdensome requirements for citizenship” and its “discriminatory effects on racial or ethnic minorities particularly the Rakhine [Arakanese] Muslims.” Rohingya are denied basic civic rights, such as access to health and education.
“My grandfather was a Burmese parliamentary secretary, how can I not qualify for citizenship?” asked Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) and a stateless refugee living in London, during an interview with DVB.If the new citizenship law was not firm, the people in Rakhine State will suffer, warned MP Kyaw Kyaw, who was one of those who objected.
MP Kyaw Oo of the Rakhine Nationals Development Party said the law was enacted to address Myanmars situation being bordered with a country where population is bursting. He said the law should only be amended once Myanmar enjoys peace and stability.
On the other hand, some MPs from ethnic political parties, said amendments to the law may be enough.
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