Motion passed to approve constitutional amendments committee

07 February 2019
Motion passed to approve constitutional amendments committee
Myanmar's Union Parliament Chairman T Hkun Myat (2-R) attends a regular session of the Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, 05 February 2019. Photo: Hein Htet/EPA

Myanmar’s parliament has approved a motion to form a committee to draft amendments to the constitution, despite strong opposition by military legislators whose political power is guaranteed by the charter, RFA reported.

The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) put forward an emergency proposal in late January to create the ad hoc committee to amend sections of the military-drafted 2008 constitution that the party views as undemocratic.

Military lawmakers oppose the move because it could diminish their political power, including an automatic quarter of the seats in the national and regional parliaments, a crucial veto over proposed constitutional changes that require a vote of more than 75 percent of legislators, and control of three security and defence ministries.