Parliament to pass anti-violence, money laundering laws by early February ...

Parliament to pass anti-violence, money laundering laws by early February—Thein Sein

Published on Wednesday, 22 January 2014 18:02

NAY PYI TAW—Myanmar's president has sent a message to the Union Parliament highlighting the importance of enacting anti-violence and money laundering laws in the first week of February, the Upper House speaker has confirmed.

According to the message, the two bills were sent to parliament on January 7. If they cannot be approved in time, Myanmar could once again face monetary and economic sanctions.

The anti-violence bill was submitted to parliament on January 20 by the deputy Home Affairs minister, Brigadier General Kyaw Kyaw Tun, and supported by Upper House MP Khin Maung Yi.

"Economic growth requires foreign investment. Economic, monetary and trade policies are important for enticing foreign investment. It is also important to effectively control and combat violence and money laundering, and to have transparency. This is why I tabled this anti-violence draft law," said Kyaw Kyaw Tun in Parliament.

He also said the anti-violence law was written with the help of local and foreign experts, adding that it was especially necessary to respect the special provisions of those two laws. Myanmar has faced increasing monetary and economic sanctions in the past when no progress is seen (in combating violence and money laundering), he pointed out.

According to the deputy minister, Myanmar continues to submit progress reports on these issues, and a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting from February 10-14 in Paris will include a discussion on Myanmar. If no marked progress is made, Myanmar will face action. The FATF and APG (Asia/Pacific Group) have informed Myanmar that the anti-violence and money laundering laws must be enacted before those meetings.

"According to legislative procedure, those bills have to be sent to the Lower House of Parliament after they have been approved by the Upper House," said Upper House speaker Khin Aung Myint.

"The bill committee of parliament needs to discuss this comprehensively with officials of the home affairs ministry outside parliament. After coordinating their efforts, they won't need to file a report for any more amendments. MPs, for their part, need to coordinate with the committee and ministry. We (Upper House) want to approve those bills this coming Thursday."

Those MPs wishing to discuss the anti-violence draft law should do so today, he added.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/parliament-to-pass-anti-violence-money-laundering-laws-by-early-february/