SuuKyi warned in accordance with the law: UEC

SuuKyi warned in accordance with the law: UEC

Published on Sunday, 01 June 2014 23:36

The Union Election Commission has cited the law to defend its decision to issue a warning on the charter change comments made by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The UEC served the warning notice for the National League for Democracy leader on May 22.

The warning said Suu Kyi's comments, seen as a critique of the military's role in politics and parliament, violated the Constitution and relevant laws, reminding her of the legal obligations and the oath taken as MP to uphold the law.

Some political analysts and law experts said that it is up to the Constitutional Tribunal, not the commission, to intervene if Suu Kyi's comments are deemed to have violated the constitution. They voiced suspicion that the commission had intervened in order to shield the military.

UEC's Director Thaung Hlaing said Suu Kyi, as a political party leader, had given her signed pledge with the commission, vowing to respect a constitutional clause banning any words that can harm the dignity of individuals or organisations. She was given a warning because her comments could be construed as insulting the military MPs, he said.

"She's the leader as well as a member of a political party. And for parties, we have the commission's mandate to supervise them. It's in Section 10(l). We have to allow party registration. Then we have to supervise them. And the supervision is prescribed in the party registration law," said Thaung Hlaing.

"They (the parties) said they would respect the law. But later, they did as they wished by breaking the law. So we need to warn them. We have also warned other parties. This is not meant for an individual. We must let them know what we act in accordance with the law."

He also said the commission's notice did not prohibit her from giving speeches. According to the constitution, every citizen has the rights for freedom of expression and public assembly. But the exercise of these rights should not infringe on or harm the others.

The NLD is reportedly planning to protest the UEC warning.

"The NLD as well as the parliament cannot rule on the constitutional offence. This is the duty of the Constitutional Tribunal. Therefore the UEC has erred in issuing the warning," said Nyan Win, NLD's spokesperson.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/suukyi-warned-in-accordance-with-the-law-uec/