JOHN GRAFILO | 08 FEB 2019
Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, on Thursday welcomed the establishment of a parliamentary committee to amend the country’s controversial 2008 Constitution.
Lee, who recently accused the government of failing to implement democratic reforms, urged the parliament to heed the people’s call to amend the charter.
“The establishment of this committee is a positive development that I hope will aid Myanmar to truly transition to democracy,” said Lee. “The people wish the constitution to be amended, and I encourage the new joint committee to carry out their will.”
The amendment of the 2008 charter has been one of the goals of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) since it joined the political fray in 2011 and came to power in 2016.
The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 general election, but the ruling military government refused to recognise the result. In May 2010, the party was declared illegal and ordered to be disbanded after refusing to register for the elections set for November 2010. In November 2011, the NLD announced its intention to register as a political party, and the Union Election Commission approved its application in December 2011.
In the 2012 by-elections, the NLD contested 44 of the 45 available seats, winning 43. Party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the seat in Kawhmu township of Yangon Region.
In the 2015 general election, the NLD won a majority in both houses of parliament, paving the way for the country’s first non-military president in 54 years.
The move to amend the charter, which was introduced to parliament on January 29, was the first attempt by the NLD since taking control of the government.
The date coincided with the second anniversary of the murder of prominent NLD lawyer U Ko Ni, who had been a staunch advocate of charter change.
The 2008 Constitution was drafted by the military government and has been a key stumbling point in the country’s ability to move from decades of military rule to democracy.
Many people believe the constitution is undemocratic. Among its provisions is the automatic allocation of 25 percent of seats in parliament to members of the military, as well as designating military control of the ministries of Home Affairs, Defence and Border Affairs.
“The current constitution is not democratic, and Myanmar cannot be considered a democracy without it being amended,” Ms Lee said.
The military is boycotting the discussion of the charter amendments, claiming the proposal to set up the committee did not follow parliamentary procedure.
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