Parliament's still influenced by the executive sector: Upper House MP Dr Aye Maung
Published on Sunday, 21 September 2014 08:17
Upper House MP Dr Aye Maung speaks during the Open Parliament Event Myanmar 2014 ceremony held in Yangon on September 20 (Photo – EMG)
The Parliament still lacks transparency and is still under the influence of the executive sector and this situation has recently become more evident, an Upper House MP and second leader of Rakhine National Party Dr Aye Maung said yesterday.
During the "Open Parliament Event Myanmar 2014" held at the office of Open Myanmar Initiative in Hlaing Township, Dr Aye Maung explained that he competed in the 2010 Election to amend the 2008 Constitution and demand ethnic rights even though he did not accept the constitution. While the MPs from a certain big party received full living facilities at the start of the parliament, small ethnic parties faced accommodation difficulties.
"The Parliament - the legislative sector – is the crucial sector in democracy that represents the public and can challenge the executive sector so we really need the strength of the Parliament. Theoretically, the three sectors of executive, legislative, and judiciary should counterbalance each other, but in the current situation, we are experiencing the influence of the executive sector still exists in the Parliament, just like it was 26 years ago. Because, no matter how a law is discussed openly in the Parliament, the influence of the executive sector has become more evident as seen in the advice sent from the President's Office," said Dr Aye Maung.
There was no parliament in Myanmar after 1988 and the parliamentary system that existed 26 years ago before 1988 was created to put the central-controlled persons in the parliament so it can be considered that there was no parliament in the country. The current Parliament lacked transparency in the early 2011, but there were a few transparencies after the 2012 by-election and MPs from the National League for Democracy (NLD) entered the parliament. However, the influence of the executive sector became more obvious at the moment since the upcoming election is drawing nearer, according to him.
Dr Aye Maung said he believes the military's occupation of 25 percent seats in the parliament has been drafted in the constitution to ensure the country's movement towards democracy remains on their desired path and limit the country from straying from the path and moving towards a democracy system accepted by everyone.
"The Parliament has clearly pointed out the government's budget and projects a lot between 2012 and 2013. This is the period where the National League for Democracy entered [the Parliament] and showed independence and transparency to the show with full force. However, I have seen a backtracking [in the Parliament] now since the upcoming election is drawing nearer and they don't want to criticize their own government," he added.
The Open Parliament Event Myanmar 2014 is held for two days and Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNLD)'s chairman Khun Tun Oo, Democratic Party (Myanmar)'s chairman Thu Wai, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)'s central committee member Thar Win, Yangon Region MP Dr Nyo Nyo Thin, Lower House MP Sandar Min from Zabuthiri Township in Nay Pyi Taw, and legal experts gave talks and participated in the discussions on the first day.
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/parliaments-still-influenced-by-the-executive-sector-upper-house-mp-dr-aye/
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