‘Vocabulary Crisis’ Creates Yet Another Hurdle for Myanmar’s Federalism

On Parliament’s final day of voting on proposed constitutional amendments, the NLD’s bid to scrap immunity for former junta members was voted down.

The Myanmar Parliament has approved a proposal to remove language deemed unnecessary from a charter provision on the appointment of state and regional ministers.

The commander-in-chief will continue to hold the right to exercise sweeping powers in states of emergency as the military blocks Myanmar’s push to reform its Constitution.

A USDP lawmaker said the failed charter reform attempt creates a negative image of Myanmar’s military in the international community as military MPs opposed all amendments.

Unelected military lawmakers and their USDP allies have successfully blocked an NLD proposal to scrap the Constitution’s ban on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi becoming president.

Nationalists have protested in Naypyitaw against NLD attempts to change Article 59(f) of the Constitution, which bars Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency.

The NLD's proposals to curb the extensive political role granted to the military by the Constitution have failed to win the required support of over 75 percent of MPs.