Friday, 09 September 2011 22:41 Myo Thant
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A joint session of the Burmese Parliament will be held on September 15 to allow MPs to read papers to mark the International Day of Democracy on that day, according to MPs.
To commemorate the first-ever government event in Burma to mark the International Day of Democracy, the parliamentary office asked MPs to submit two pages of remarks on democracy.
MP Khaing Maung Yi of the National Democratic Force (NDF) welcomed the new government’s action, but he said the government should go farther and really create a democratic system in the country.
“The first action to mark the day in Burma is a sign that the democratic principles will be applied,” Khaing Maung Yi told Mizzima. “If the government does the activity in a constructive way, I’ll welcome it. But, I don’t want the government to cheat the people just by preaching democracy.”
The U.N. general assembly in 2007 declared September 15 as the annual date to observe an International Day of Democracy in order to raise awareness about democracy among its members. Burma became a member of the U.N. in 1948.
However, Aye Thar Aung, the secretary of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament that comprises MPs elected in the never-honoured1990 election, said, “Just marking a day as the day of democracy and just stating in newspapers that the government is implementing a democratic system does not make a genuine democracy. In fact, the government needs to apply a democratic system and human rights. The government has a responsibility in order that the country has fundamental rights.”
Win Htein, the office chief of the National League for Democracy, said that due to the former successive juntas, he doubted that the government would support democracy.
“Since 1988, the [former] junta tortured the people in various ways. It suppressed the opposition groups and approved the constitution by force. Then [the current government] said it would establish a genuine democracy. I doubt it,” Win Htein said.
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A joint session of the Burmese Parliament will be held on September 15 to allow MPs to read papers to mark the International Day of Democracy on that day, according to MPs.
To commemorate the first-ever government event in Burma to mark the International Day of Democracy, the parliamentary office asked MPs to submit two pages of remarks on democracy.
 |
| A joint session of the Burmese Parliament in Naypyitaw. On September 15, MPs will celebrate the International Day of Democracy by reading statements on democracy. Photo: Mizzima |
MP Khaing Maung Yi of the National Democratic Force (NDF) welcomed the new government’s action, but he said the government should go farther and really create a democratic system in the country.
“The first action to mark the day in Burma is a sign that the democratic principles will be applied,” Khaing Maung Yi told Mizzima. “If the government does the activity in a constructive way, I’ll welcome it. But, I don’t want the government to cheat the people just by preaching democracy.”
The U.N. general assembly in 2007 declared September 15 as the annual date to observe an International Day of Democracy in order to raise awareness about democracy among its members. Burma became a member of the U.N. in 1948.
However, Aye Thar Aung, the secretary of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament that comprises MPs elected in the never-honoured1990 election, said, “Just marking a day as the day of democracy and just stating in newspapers that the government is implementing a democratic system does not make a genuine democracy. In fact, the government needs to apply a democratic system and human rights. The government has a responsibility in order that the country has fundamental rights.”
Win Htein, the office chief of the National League for Democracy, said that due to the former successive juntas, he doubted that the government would support democracy.
“Since 1988, the [former] junta tortured the people in various ways. It suppressed the opposition groups and approved the constitution by force. Then [the current government] said it would establish a genuine democracy. I doubt it,” Win Htein said.
Subscribe to email feed
