Legislators the first 'Post-Junta' National Parliament
Renaud Egreteau: Journal of Current SE Asian Affairs - October 2014
Abstract: In an attempt to better grasp the realities of Myanmar’s national legislature, which was formed after the 2010 elections, the paper examines the personal profiles and social backgrounds of its elected and appointed members. Data are provided on the social composition of Myanmar’s first “post-junta” parliament as a dataset for further comparative research on the resurgence of legislative affairs in the country.
The study draws on official publications containing the biographies of 658 national parliamentarians. Focusing on six socio-demographic variables, the findings suggest that the typical Burmese legislator still closely mirrors the conventional image of Myanmar’s characteristic postcolonial leader: a man, in his mid-fifties, ethnically Bamar, Buddhist, holding a Myanmar university degree, engaged in business activities or in the education sector (in the case of the 492 elected legislators) or in the security sector (for the 166 military appointees). However, the profile of Myanmar’s first post-junta legislature offers a quite unexpected level of diversity that may augur well for the emergence of a new civilian policymaking elite in Myanmar.
Myanmar President commits to democratic transition
Global Times (Beijing) - 26 March 2014
President U Thein Sein pledged in his speech to Parliament on the third anniversary of his government taking office that his government would go ahead with the democratic transition without return. On international suspicion that his government would possibly deviate from democratization and return to the past, U Thein Sein said his government never deviated from the way, pledging to adhere to the destination, noting that the past years had witnessed some positive results.
Speaking of the 2008 constitution, he called for amendment of the constitution in accordance with democratic norms which shall be accepted and be handled properly. He warned that the constitutional amendment should not head for a political crisis but must be correct.
He said the armed forces should continue to play its role in national defense and ensuring security as well as the democratic transition, stressing the need for the armed forces' continued presence on negotiation table in seeking for political solution, but its role can be gradually reduced as domestic peace improves.
He called for deliberation on demands made by the ethnic nationalities and political forces outside the parliament for participation in the peace process. He urged political parties not to stick to conflict but to work in partnership, acknowledging that such political culture has been taking shape over the government's first three years' term in office.
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- President affirms slowly declining role for military - Voice of America
- Suu Kyi, Shwe Mann hold joint press conference - The Irrawaddy
- Opponents slam Thein Sein's anniversary speech - Democratic Voice of Burma
The Myanmar Times - 30 January 2014
The government appears to be heading for another showdown with the parliament, after President U Thein Sein announced last week he plans to ask the Constitutional Tribunal to examine whether eight new laws conform to the constitution.
The decision could reignite a dispute with parliament that erupted in 2012 over the definition of “union-level organisations” and prompted MPs to impeach the entire tribunal. The submissions will be the first since a new tribunal was installed in February 2013, with the lower house speaker, upper house speaker and president selecting three members each to sit on the body. Continue reading.....
The Irrawaddy - 11 January 2014
What looks likely to be a querulous Parliament session will open in Naypyidaw on Monday, with legislators set to discuss a series of controversial measures on voting eligibility, inter-religious marriage and protestor rights, as well as new laws aimed at modernizing Burma’s business realm. Continue reading.....
