Mawlamyine, April (9 )
Political analysts criticised the agreement between the military council and its allied political parties to amend Article 261 of the 2008 Constitution as being illegal and unconstitutional.
The delegates from the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) met on April 6 to amend Article 261 of the Constitution.
At that meeting, it was agreed to amend Article 261 of the 2008 Constitution.
Section 261 stipulates that the President appoints the Chief Ministers of Regions and States.
The military council and political parties cannot amend the constitution without the parliament and there is no authority to do this, said political analyst U Than Soe Naing.
“Now that there is no parliament or government, it is illegal to issue decrees and amend the constitution. They have no authority to do that, but they are doing it,” he said.
Sai Ai Paung, chairman of the UPDJC said that the peace conference could repeal or amend any law, including the constitution according to Article 22 (d) of the NCA agreement between the military and the ethnic armed groups.
“Whether there is a parliament or not, if NCAS-EAO (Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement- Signatories, Ethnic Armed Organizations), ethnic political parties, the government and the military agree to amend Article 261 of the constitution at Union Peace Conference, it will enter into force once it is approved by parliament after the 2023 election,” Sai Ai Paung, chairman of the UPDJC, said.
Military representatives suggested revisions to Article 261 under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, but they were defeated due to objections from NLD lawmakers.
News – Than Lwin Times
Thanlwintimes