Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.
See Premium Plans
 
myanmar
times
     t     H     e
April 30 - May 6, 2012
 
Myanmar’s first international weekly Volume 32, No. 624 1200 Kyats
By Soe Than Lynn in Nay Pyi Taw
THE absence of the National Leaguefor Democracy representativesovershadowed events in parliamentlast week, with representativestelling
The Myanmar Times
thatthey wanted to see the dispute overthe parliamentary oath resolved assoon as possible.While most stopped short of criticising the NLD’s stance, theysaid the party’s representativeswould be better placed to amendthe oath by first taking their seatsin parliament.Rumours drifted around Nay PyiTaw all week that a breakthroughwas imminent and the NLD wouldsoon enter parliament but noresolution had been reached bydeadline. Representatives saidthey expected the third sessionto conclude on May 3 or 4, whichwould leave open the possibility of the NLD making its parliamentarydebut this week.The NLD had been expected toattend the hluttaw when the thirdsession resumed on April 23 butless than a week before the restart,the party announced its 41 newlyelected representatives would nottake their seats until the wordingof the parliamentary oath waschanged to make it consistentwith the amended Political PartiesRegistration Law.The party argued that takingthe oath, which requires itsrepresentatives to “uphold” or“defend” rather than “abide by”or “respect” the constitution, couldhinder its program to amend theconstitution in the future.But Daw Nan Wah Nu, thePyithu Hluttaw representativefor Konhein, told
The MyanmarTimes
the NLD’s presence wasneeded to strengthen the hand of opposition representatives.“Previously we heard that AuntySuu and her party would attend thehluttaw. All of us welcomed this.We can definitely make much moreprogress in amending laws withtheir strength and organisationalskills so we would like them to enterhluttaw politics instead of stayingoutside,” the Shan NationalitiesDemocratic Party member said.“What the NLD said is correct:that ‘uphold’ and ‘respect’ do nothave the same meaning. But if theywant to amend it, they should cometo the hluttaw first. At present, thestrength of democratic [parties] isless than one-third of the hluttaw.There are issues that we willbe able to resolve with betteroutcomes [if] Aunty Suu and herparty are present.”
End of the road for Yangon’s clunkers
Old vehicles surrendered in exchange for an import permit under a car substitution program launched in September 2011 siton a scrap heap at No 3 Steel Mill in Insein township’s Ywarma ward last week. More than 46,000 'overage' vehicles had
been submitted nationally to the end of March, according to Directorate of Transport Administration gures.
Pic: Kaung Htet 
Hluttaw oath standoff continues
More page 4
CONTINUING the week-long focus on semantics,the leader of the National League for Democracyinsisted on April 26 that her party’s demand tochange the wording of the parliamentary oath wasa technical rather than political issue.NLD representatives who won seats innational and regional legislatures on April 1have refused to enter parliament until the oathis changed to conform to the Political PartiesRegistration Law. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi saidthe NLD was trying to work with the government tochange the wording of the oath from “safeguard” to“respect”.“We would like to think that [this issue is] purelya technical one. We will not like to expand it tothe point that it becomes a political issue. And wehope that others look upon it this way and not tryto push it to the extent that it becomes a politicaldeadlock,” she said.
Dispute not a 'political issue': NLD leader
More page 4
Representatives in Nay Pyi Taw urge ast resolution to dispute that has overshadowed hluttaw resumption
 
N
ews
the
M
yanMar
t
iMes
2
April 30 - May 6, 2012
By Cherry Thein
THREE ancient Pyu cities willbe nominated for inclusionon the World Heritage List,archaeological experts decided ata workshop on safeguarding thecountry’s cultural heritage heldearlier this month.The April 4-6 capacitybuilding workshop, which was jointly organised by the UnitedNations Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) and the Ministryof Information and Culture,brought together a range of experts, who discussed plansfor safeguarding the sites andpreparations for undertaking theheritage listing process.Sri Ksetra in Bago Region’sPyay township, Hanlin in SagaingRegion’s Shwebo township andBeikthano in Magwe Region’sTaungdwingyi township wereselected for nomination on thelist, said U San Win, chairman of acommittee tasked with preparingthe nominations.He said nominating the siteswas one of three prioritiesunder a new project that runsuntil 2013. Other objectivesinclude the conservation andmanagement of archaeologicalsites and establishment of cultural heritage informationmanagement systems.“We have launched a projectwith technical contribution fromUNESCO and financial supportfrom the Italian government,” USan Win said.The project will allow UNESCOto mobilise internationalexpertise to assist Myanmarin strengthening its ability tosafeguard its cultural heritage inaccordance with standards set bythe World Heritage Convention,he said.From May, UNESCO willconduct three training courseson technical conservation thatwill be delivered through on-sitedemonstration of restorationactivities.“We will try to completeactivities and trainings withinthe project period but we can’t fixthe date because it is hard to workduring the monsoon,” he said.Mr Tim Curtis, chief of theCulture Unit at UNESCOBangkok said the project aimedto develop the knowledge of preservation and managementtechniques of government staff at the three Pyu sites.“First [priority is] buildingcapacity in managing andconserving heritage sites andthis component will ensurethat the highest standards of conservation and managementwill be shared and applied,” MrCurtis said.“Field activities will be carriedout at two main sites, the ancientPyu settlement [of Sri Ksetra]and Bagan. Training at Baganwill focus on mural and stuccoconservation, while trainingat the Pyu cities will focus onarchitectural and archaeologicalconservation,” he said.He said the project would alsofocus on the development of “geographic information systems”in order to collate existingdata and identify key physicalattributes that will help tobetter understand the scope andsignificance of the sites.“The information databasewill also help users and decisionmakers from various concernedagencies to better protect thesites,” he saidMr Curtis said internationaland national experts wouldcooperate closely with thegovernment to undertake theresearch and analysis requiredfor the Pyu cities to be considered“Tentative List sites deemed of high priority”.He said UNESCO was“delighted” to once again beworking closely with Myanmarafter a decade-long gap.Deputy Minister of Culture DawSandar Khin said at the openingceremony of the workshop thatshe appreciated the technicaland financial contributionsfrom foreign donors. However,she reiterated that Myanmarmust take an active role inpreservation.“I feel thankful to bothcontributors for safeguardingour cultural heritage,” she said.“Unless we cherish [the] value[of our heritage sites], it isimpossible to preserve them. Itis very important to cherish andprotect them.”Myanmar ratified the WorldHeritage Convention in April1994. While it has no sites onUNESCO’s World Heritage List,in 1996 Myanmar submitted atentative list of eight culturalsites with technical support fromUNESCO.Minister for Information andCulture U Kyaw Hsan said thegovernment planned to registerBagan and Mrauk-U after thePyu cities had been included.OTTAWA – Canada last week liftedmost sanctions against Myanmar,Foreign Affairs Minister JohnBaird announced, saying that thenation had “changed course in amajor way”.The move by Canada on April 24came one day after the suspensionby the European Union of mostsanctions against Myanmar.“Effective immediately, Canadais suspending our sanctionson Burma,” Mr Baird said.“Prohibitions on imports, exportsand investment have for the mostpart been removed,” as well asindividual sanctions, he said.But a Canadian arms embargoagainst the country was leftintact.Suspension of the sanctionsis intended to bolster sweepingreforms in the one-time pariahnation.The measures were imposedon Myanmar starting in 1988 “totry to encourage the governmentto change course, and they’vechanged course in a major way”,Mr Baird said.“Given that the government hastaken such significant reforms,we’re prepared to give them ashot,” he said.Mr Baird pointed to a “very realpace and scope of changes takingplace in Burma”.He said this progress includedthe release of political prisoners,a by-election “seemingly free of intimidation or violence”, andDaw Aung San Suu Kyi’s electionvictory “that happened largelywithout problems”.“We want to see reformscontinue,” he said. As well, he encouraged “peoplesitting on the fence to join thecamp for reform”.But Mr Baird added thatCanada would not hesitate tore-impose sanctions if Myanmarbackslides.“We’re very hopeful andoptimistic, at the same time we’renot naive, we’ll be watching,very, very closely,” along with theinternational community, as eventsunfold in the still army-dominatednation, he said. –
 AFP
Canada liftsmost of itssanctions,applaudsreformers
Pyu cities in line for heritage list
A carving of a Buddha image at a temple in the Pyu city of Sri Ksetra in Bago Region.
Pic: Douglas Long
 
UNESCO and Italian government to provide assistance or application that could see Pyu citieso Sri Ksetra, Beikthano and Hanlin become Myanmar’s rst entries on World Heritage List
in respect of:- “Motor vehicles and parts thereof”Any fraudulent imitation or unauthorized use of thesaid trademark or other infringements whatsoever willbe dealt with according to law.
Trade Mark CauTion
NOTICE is hereby given that
renauLT s..s.
acompany organized under the laws of France and
having its principal ofce at 13-15 quai Alphonse LeGallo, F-92100 Boulogne-Billancourt is the Owner
and Sole Proprietor of the following trademark:-
(rg: ns. iV/356/2009 & iV/2812/2012)
RENAULT
U Kyi Win Associatesfor
renauLT s..s.
P.O. Box No. 26, Yangon.Phone: 372416Dated: 30
th
April, 2012
 
N
ews
3
the
M
yanMar
t
iMes
April 30 - May 6, 2012
By Yadana Htun and Sandar Lwin
THE National League for Democracylast week stood by its refusal toenter parliament until the oath forrepresentatives has been amended,despite growing calls for a resolutionto the deadlock.U Ohn Kyaing, a spokespersonfor the party and representativefor Maha Aung Myay, reiteratedthat MPs, including leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, would attendparliament only after the NLD’sdemand had been met.Earlier, another NLDspokesperson, U Nyan Win, said theparty had sent two letters concerningthe oath issue to the president’soffice, constitutional tribunal and Amyotha and Pyithu Hluttaws.“We can’t say exactly when it willbe solved. It’s not something thatwe can do alone. Everyone has tocooperate. We are trying so that thisdoes not become a political crisis,” UNyan Win said. According to section 125 of the 2008constitution, new representativeshave to read the oath in schedule4, which swears them to safeguardor protect the constitution. Thiscontradicts the amended PoliticalParties Registration Law, whichrequires parties to abide by orrespect the constitution.Pyithu Hluttaw Legal Affairs andSpecial Cases Committee memberU Than Maung (Sittway) said at acommittee meeting last week thatthe oath could only be changedthrough submission of a bill to theparliament.“The oath is in the constitution. If you want to change something from[the constitution], the way in whichto do it is stated in chapter 12. Itdoesn’t say that specific sectionscan be changed and others not. Youcan change anything by following itsinstructions,” U Than Maung toldreporters on April 24.However, representatives saidthey believed the party should workto amend the oath by first enteringparliament.“They will get the opportunityto change the constitution whenthey are in the parliament,” said UThein Nyunt, a former NLD memberwho now chairs the New NationalDemocracy Party and representsThingangyun. “Rather than facingdifficulties because of the oath, theNLD should work for the people whovoted for them.” Analyst Aung Thu Nyein, of theThailand-based Vahu DevelopmentInstitute, told
 AFP
that the NLDhad “made the wrong move” inmaking a stand over the oath.“I think the NLD should participatein the parliament and then theyshould propose comprehensivepolitical and economic reformstrategies,” he said.Some also expressed concernsthat the dispute could escalate andthreaten the country’s politicalstability. Writer and journalistMaung Wuntha said he expectedNLD and the government to reachan agreement but he was worriedabout a repeat of 1990, when theNLD won a landslide but was laterfrozen out of the political process.“As the oath is in the constitutionit needs to be changed accordingto the procedure for amending theconstitution. It’s not possible tochange it based on the order of asingle person,” he said. “For thesake of people, it will be best if thisproblem doesn’t become bigger andthat an agreement is reached.”TOKYO – President U Thein Seinsaid last week that Daw Aung SanSuu Kyi’s decision on whether totake her seat in parliament restedwith her, media in Japan reportedamid a spat over a loyalty oath.U Thein Sein told reportersin Tokyo on April 23 that theNobel Peace Prize winner would bewelcomed into the chamber but thattaking the seat she won earlier thismonth was up to her.“Ms Suu Kyi needs to decidewhether she wants to enterparliament or not,” U Thein Seinsaid, when asked in a groupinterview in Tokyo about thepossibility of revising the wordingof a contentious oath,
 Kyodo
 reported.“Myanmar’s parliament is all infavour of her entrance and verymuch welcoming her.”The National League forDemocracy has refused to swearto “safeguard” the army-writtenconstitution.The president, who was on a fiveday visit to Japan that ended April24, also affirmed that the processof democratisation in the countrywould not be reversed.“There won’t be any U-turn,” UThein Sein said. “We would liketo cooperate [with Daw Aung SanSuu Kyi] by heading in the samedirection, in the interest of thepeople,” the
 Mainichi Shimbun
 reported.U Thein Sein also left open thedoor for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi toenter government, but said she hadto decide where her priorities lay.Noting that the constitution doesnot allow lawmakers to becomemembers of the cabinet, he said:“Suu Kyi has to make her owndecision.”“Suu Kyi should work for thepeople, rather than her own party,”
 Jiji
press cited him as saying. Asked about any change to theconstitution, the president said: “Itwill be decided by the wishes of thepeople, the opinions of the people.”U Thein Sein’s comments, ona visit to Japan that has seenTokyo promise to forgive US$3.7billion of debt and restart aidprograms, were his first since theNLD threatened to boycott theresumption of parliament on April23. –
 AFP
Enteringparliamentup to NLD:U Thein Sein
UNITED NATIONS –UN leader Ban Ki-moonon April 23 called for a“harmonious” deal allowingDaw Aung San Suu Kyito take an oath and enterparliament, ahead of hisvisit this week.Mr Ban was expected toarrive in Yangon on April29 to meet with Daw AungSan Suu Kyi for the firsttime as well as PresidentU Thein Sein.Mr Ban told reportersMyanmar’s transitionhas reached “a criticalmoment”.“Now is the time for theinternational communityto stand together atMyanmar’s side,” he added,hailing “landmark” by-elections on April 1. “Butthis fresh start is fragile.”The UN secretary-general welcomed movesby the European Union andUnited States to suspendsanctions and said he woulddiscuss ways the UnitedNations could help thecountry. “They deserve ourfull support,” he said. Asked about a disputebetween Daw Aung SanSuu Kyi and the presidentover taking the oath of office, Ban said: “I sincerelyhope they are able to find amutually harmonious wayto have smooth proceedingsof the parliament.”The dispute is the firstsign of tension with thegovernment since thedemocracy icon’s electoralvictory. –
 AFP
UN leaderto meet thepresident,Daw AungSan Suu Kyi
Despite concerns, NLDstands by oath refusal
‘
Now is thetime or theinternationalcommunity tostand together atMyanmar’s side.
’
A Pyithu Hluttaw representativeleaves the chamber afterattending the third regularsession in Nay Pyi Taw on April23.
Pic: AFP 
 
the
M
yanMar
t
iMes
4
N
ews
April 30 - May 6, 2012
By Htoo Aung
 ALL 893 stalls destroyed ina fire at a market in SouthOkkalapa township on April10 will be rebuilt at no cost totheir owners, an official saidlast week. An unattended mosquito coilis thought to have started thefire at Hay Ma Wun Market inSouth Okkalapa’s ward 10, withsecurity guards apparentlylighting the coil to ensure amosquito-free sleep.The blaze was the third tohave occurred at the market,according to the Yangon RegionFire Services Department, andcaused estimated damage of K61.3 million.Hay Ma Wun Market officialU Khin Maung Win told
The Myanmar Times
last week thatall of the stalls would be rebuiltwithin two months.“The owners of the stalls thatwere burnt will not have to payany fees or taxes,” he said.In the meantime, about 70of the shop owners will be ableto rent vacant stalls elsewherein the market, which has 1950altogether.U Kin Maung Win said goldstalls would be rebuilt firstbecause they were previouslyof a standard size, while theother stalls – mostly sellingstationery, plastic goods andtextiles – were of varying sizes.He said the stalls would berebuilt as 5 feet by 6 feet. Aunt Pyone, owner of AuntyPyone garment shop, said shelost goods valued at K10 millionin the fire.She blamed the fire on thesecurity contractor and saidthe guards hired were not up tostandard. “The contractor toldus they would hire 15 securityguards but only five were everhired,” she said.Cosmetic store owner Ma NgeNge Kyaw said it was the secondtime her stalls at the markethad been burnt. “I lost 20 stalls,I’ve been selling cosmetics herefor years. In the 2001 fire, I lostall five of my stalls.”
From page 1
Four political objectives
«
Stability of the State, community peace andtranquillity, prevalence of law and order 
«
Strengthening of national solidarity
«
Building and strengthening of discipline-
ourishing democracy system
«
Building of a new modern developed nationin accord with the Constitution
Four social objectives
«
Uplift of the morale and morality of the entire nation
«
Uplift of national prestige and integrity and preservationand safeguarding of cultural heritage and nationalcharacter 
«
Flourishing of Union Spirit, the true patriotism
«
Uplift of health, tness and education standards of 
the entire nation
Four economic objectives
«
Building of modern industrialized nation through the agricultural development,and all-round development of other sectors of the economy
«
Proper evolution of the market-oriented economic system
«
Development of the economy inviting participation in terms of technicalknow-how and investment from sources inside the country and abroad
«
The initiative to shape the national economy must be kept in the handsof the State and the national peoples
Chief Executive Officer & Editor-in-Chief (MTM)
Dr. Tin Tun Oomanagement@myanmartimes.com.mmdrtto@myanmartimes.com.mm
Editor-in-Chief (MTE)
Ross Dunkleyrsdunkley@gmail.com
Chief Operating Officer
–
 
U Wai Linnwailin@myanmartimes.com.mm
Strategic Management Committee
Dr. Tin Tun Oo (Chairman)
Committee members
Dr. Khin Moe Moe, Ross Dunkley, Bill Clough,U Min Sein, U Myint Maung, U Wai Linn, ThomasKean (Editor-MTE) and U Zaw Myint (Editor-MTM)
Senior Management Consultant
– U Myint Maungmyintmaung@myanmartimes.com.mmoomyintmaung@gmail.com
EDITORIAL
newsroom@myanmartimes.com.mm
Editor MTE
– Thomas Keantdkean@myanmartimes.com.mm
Editor MTM
– U Zaw Myinteditormtm@myanmartimes.com.mm
Editor Special Publications
–
 
U Myo Lwinmyolwin@myanmartimes.com.mm
Business Editor MTE
– Stuart Deedstuart.deed@gmail.com
World Editor MTE
–
 
Geoffrey Goddardgeoffrey@myanmartimes.com.mm
Timeout Editor MTE
–
 
Douglas Long
 
editors@myanmartimes.com.mm
Deputy Editor MTM
–
 
U Win Nyunt Lwinwinnyunt@myanmartimes.com.mm
Business Editor MTM
–
 
U Nyunt Winnyuntwin81@gmail.com
Property Editor MTM
–
 
Htar Htar Khinproperty@myanmartimes.com.mm
Timeout Editor MTM
–
 
Moh Moh Thaw
Deputy News Editors
– Kyaw Hsu Mon, Yadana Htun
Chief Political Reporter
–
 
Shwe Yinn Mar Oo
Contributing Editor
–
 
Ma Thanegima.thanegi19@gmail.com
Head of Translation Dept
– U Ko Ko
Head of Photographics
– Kaung Htet
Photographers
– Aye Zaw Myo, Thet Htoo, Yadanar
Manager Special Projects
–
 
U Wai Linnwailin@myanmartimes.com.mm
Book Publishing Consultant Editor
–
 
Col Hla Moe (Retd)
Editor:
U Win Tun
MCM BureausMandalay Bureau Chief 
– U Aung Shinkoshumgtha@gmail.com
Nay Pyi Taw Bureau Chief 
– U Soe Than Lynn
PRODUCTION
production@myanmartimes.com.mm
Head of Production & Press Scrutiny Liaison
–U Aung Kyaw Oo (1)
Head of Graphic Design
– U Tin Zaw Htway
MCM PRINTING
printing@myanmartimes.com.mm
Head of Department
– U Htay Maung
Warehouse Manager
– U Ye Linn Htay
Factory Administrator
–
 
U Aung Kyaw Oo (3)
Factory Foreman
– U Tin Win
ADVERTISING
advertising@myanmartimes.com.mm
Sales & Marketing Manager
–
 
Daw Linn Linn Soe Lwinlinnlinn@myanmartimes.com.mm
Account Director
–
 
U Nyi Nyi Tun
Classifieds Manager
–
 
Daw Khin Mon Mon Yiclassified@myanmartimes.com.mm
Upper Myanmar Marketing Manager
–
 
U Nay Myo Oo
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCEFinance Manager
– Daw Mon Mon Tha Saingfinance@myanmartimes.com.mm
Assistant Admin Manager
–
 
Daw Nang Maisy
Publisher
– Dr Tin Tun Oo, Permit No: 04143
Systems Manager
–
 
U Khin Maung Thawwebmaster@myanmartimes.com.mm
DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION
 
Manager
– Daw Thin Thin Thet Paingdistmgr@myanmartimes.com.mm
Deputy Manager
– U Ko Ko Aungcirculation@myanmartimes.com.mm
ALL ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES
Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928Facsimile: (01) 254 158Email: management@myanmartimes.com.mmThe Myanmar Times is owned by MyanmarConsolidated Media Ltd and printed by MCMCommercial Printing (licence provided by SwesoneMedia (08102) with approval from MCM Ltd andby Shwe Zin Press (0368) with approval fromMCM Ltd). The title The Myanmar Times, in eitherEnglish or Myanmar languages, its associated logosor devices and the contents of this publication maynot be reproduced in whole or in part without thewritten consent of the Managing Director of MyanmarConsolidated Media Ltd.
Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd.www.mmtimes.comHead Office:
379/383 Bo Aung Kyaw Street,Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar.Telephone: (01) 253 642, 392 928Facsimile: (01) 392 706
Mandalay Bureau:
No.180, 74
th
Street, (Bet. 31
st
& 32
nd
 streets) Chan Aye Thar San Township, Mandalay.Tel: (02) 24450, 24460, 65391, 65392Fax: (02) 24460Email: mdybranch@myanmartimes.com.mm
Nay Pyi Taw Bureau:
No. 10/72 Bo Tauk Htein St,Yan Aung (1) Quarter, Nay Pyi Taw-Pyinmana.Tel: (067) 23064, 23065Email: capitalbureau@myanmartimes.com.mm
MYANMAR CONSOLIDATED MEDIA Ltd.
Reps urge resolution
 As with other sections of theconstitution, the oath can onlybe amended with a 75 percentmajority vote, while 20pc of representatives must be infavour of a change for it to goto a debate and vote.That means the NLD wouldneed the backing of the UnionSolidarity and DevelopmentParty – the party it trouncedin the by-elections – and atleast a handful of militaryrepresentatives to changethe oath. But USDP generalsecretary U Htay Oo said hesaw little need to support theamendment.“Are representatives’functions affected, hurt orhampered if the wording of theoath is not amended? If so, itwill be [amended]. If not, arethey [NLD representatives]going to be preoccupied withthis issue without doing otherthings that are more pressing?This is how I see it,” he said.“By contesting the election,were they only trying toamend the wording [of theoath] or to engage in hluttawpolitics? There’s no way theydidn’t know about the wording[before the by-election]. It isnot hidden.“If the wording has tobe amended, will all therepresentatives who arealready in the hluttaw have totake oath again? Because [smallnumber of] representativeswant to change the oath, willhundreds of representativeshave to change it? Thebottom line is that they [NLDrepresentatives] should enterpolitics in the hluttaw.”Representatives across thepolitical spectrum expressedfrustration at the timing of theNLD’s demand and its apparentreticence to compromise.“Only the hluttaw canamend that wording. It wouldbe better if the NLD enterhluttaw first and it wouldhave been even better if theyhad noticed the wording anddemanded it to changed beforethe by-elections,” said U YeTun, the Shan NationalitiesDemocratic Party’s PyithuHluttaw representative forHsipaw.“Getting into politics entailspatience, tolerance and anability to lead the public withouttaking unnecessary risks. Onlythen can one be regarded asthe true leader. So they [NLDrepresentatives] will haveto come to the hluttaw firstand then proceed [with theiragenda] with great patience.”U Thein Nyunt, a formerNLD legal adviser who wona seat with the NLD in the1990 election, said the partyneeded to show more respectfor those who voted for itsrepresentatives on April 1.“Today we discussed aboutfixing the judiciary and if they[NLD representatives] werehere, there would have been amore lively debate. If they putoff entering the hluttaw despitebeing allowed, it amountsto neglecting the public’sdesire. We have to do thingsaccording to the mandategiven by the public,” the PyithuHluttaw representatives forThingangyun said.U Thein Nyunt alsoquestioned the party’sdecision-making process overthe issue.“It’s a matter that should befigured out prior to runningfor election instead of talkingat the last minute before goingto the hluttaw. They shouldhave read the constitution andhluttaw laws and by-laws …didn’t the NLD’s legal adviserslearn the law thoroughly? Oris this being done for politicalreasons? I have no idea,” hesaid.“Why don’t they come tothe hluttaw even after beingelected? In 1990 when theywon the election no hluttawwas convened and there wasno constitution so we remainedMPs-elect for 20 years. Weshould take this as a lesson.”While the party’s newrepresentatives have refusedto take the oath, AmyothaHluttaw representativeDr Myat Nyarna Soe, who jumped ship from the NationalDemocratic Force to the NLDafter it decided to re-register,has retained his place inparliament.“I have the guidance of thechairman and the centralexecutive committee of NLD,”he said. “I am allowed tocontinue to attend hluttawsessions because I took oath.NLD instructed me to continuehluttaw politics.” Asked his opinion of NLDchair Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’sstance on the issue, he said:“People like our leader AuntySuu want to use firm wordingand she should not be blamedfor that … she follows in herfather’s footsteps.“I am a member of the Amyotha Hluttaw BillCommittee so my line of thinking is that laws shouldbe consistent so this issue canbe resolved if the remaininglaws are amended to match thePolitical Parties RegistrationLaw.“Now the country is goingthe democratic way so it’s notalways going to be a bed of roses … there will be manyconflicts like this for sure.But all sides have a duty toovercome them.”While the NLDrepresentatives baulked attaking the oath, there wereno such problems for U SaiSan Min, who narrowly wonShan State Amyotha HluttawConstituency 3 on April 1.The SNDP representative told
The Myanmar Times
shortlyafter taking the oath that hewas “pleased that as a publicrepresentative I can now dothings in the public interest”,before adding: “But I would behappier if my political colleaguesfrom NLD were here too.”–
Translated by Thit Lwin
Political issue
Because of the dispute, the41 NLD representatives whowon constituencies in the twonational legislatures wereunable to take their seatswhen parliament resumed on April 23.Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,who was speaking to reportersafter meeting Italian ForeignMinister Mr Giulio Terzi diSant’Agata at her residence,said she had confidence thatPresident U Thein Sein and theparty could solve the problemsmoothly.“We believe that President UThein Sein is sincere. He willtruly like to see Myanmar asa progressive and prosperousnation. Because of that we[NLD] will increase efforts tocollaborate with the presidentin the democratisation worksof this country,” she said.“We hope that the presentproblem will be smoothed overwithout too much difficultybefore too long. And that we willbe able to serve our country, not just outside parliament as wehave been doing for the last 20odd years, but also from withinthe national assembly.”The president and Daw AungSan Suu Kyi have met twotimes since the governmenttook office on March 30, 2011.The first meeting eventually ledto the party’s decision to contestthe April 1 by-elections.However, during a visit toJapan last week the presidentsaid changing the constitutionwas the responsibility of theparliament rather than thegovernment. Changes requirea 75 percent majority and,in some cases, a nationalreferendum.The NLD leader played downthe likelihood of confrontationwith appointed military MPsin parliament when her partyeventually takes its place.“I won’t think of this asconfrontation. I will think of it as opportunity to get oncloser terms with the military.I hope that through closercooperation, we will learn tounderstand one another better. And that we will be able toget the benefit for our owncountry.”
 – Yadana Htun
Fire-hit market to be rebuilt within two months
Fire brigade members stand in front of the ames at Hay Ma Wun
Market in South Okkalapa township on April 10.
Pic: Kaung Htet 
検索
検索履歴:
検索中...
結果00中00
00結果次の結果
  • p.
    • Notes
    Post Note