• Burmese
Saturday, June 14, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Concerns Raised over Last Minute Defense Council Bill

Kyaw Phyo Tha by Kyaw Phyo Tha
December 29, 2015
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Concerns Raised over Last Minute Defense Council Bill

Military parliament members arrive for Burma’s first parliament meeting after the Nov. 8 election in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters)

4.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RANGOON — Critics claim a new bill clarifying the role of the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) will pave the way for the military to exercise more power over civilian lawmakers, based on provisions that reduce the president’s clout in the council.

The National Defense and Security Council bill was distributed to Upper House lawmakers in Naypyidaw last week. The draft has so far not been made public, but could potentially be tabled in parliament before election winners take their seats at the end of January, despite a senior official telling The Irrawaddy that the bill had not yet been scheduled for discussion.

“It’s not a proposed bill yet. We just delivered them for lawmakers to study,” he said.

RelatedPosts

Renowned Myanmar language teacher John Okell is still inspiring students, five decades on.

Love of the Lingo

August 5, 2020
10.2k
--

‘Secret Garden’ in Wa Special Region Leaves Much to the Imagination

February 27, 2020
8.5k
This Week in Parliament (August 8-12)

This Week in Parliament (August 8-12)

August 13, 2016
3.8k

Burma’s military-drafted 2008 Constitution enshrines an 11-member council serving as an executive body to make policy on certain military and security issues. The NDSC can implement conscription policies, agree to amnesties at the request of the president and request the president to declare a nationwide state of emergency. Under latter, the normal executive, judicial and legislative functions of the government are suspended and transferred to the commander-in-chief and elections can be postponed for up to 12 months.

With six members, the military already has a majority on the council, which includes the president, the two vice-presidents (one of which is chosen by the Union Parliament’s military bloc), both speakers of Union Parliament, the commander-in-chief and deputy commander of the Burma Armed Forces, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the military-appointed ministers of Home Affairs, Border Affairs and Defense.

The nine-page bill presented to lawmakers last week, seen by The Irrawaddy, elaborates the NDSC’s responsibilities and procedures in six chapters.

Article 14 of the bill gives the president no right to vote on council matters, except to cast a deciding vote in the event of a deadlock. The same article also says that the council must strive to reach a consensus in its decisions, and to accept a majority vote if a unanimous resolution cannot be reached.

Khin Zaw Win, founding director of the Tampadipa Institute think tank, said the bill strengthens the military’s hand in dealing with civilian politicians, at a time when the National League for Democracy (NLD) is preparing to form the next government after its emphatic election win in March.

“It’s unnatural that the head of state is not allowed to vote. For defense and security issues, the president is not supposed to be in the middle,” he said. “It sounds they would like to limit the power of the new president while the army wants to have a dominant role.”

Questions have been raised as to why the bill has come into consideration only now, more than four and a half years before the council was established with the appointment of outgoing President Thein Sein.

“The current president and speakers came from the military and the military-backed ruling party,” said Khin Zaw Win. “In the near future, there will be outsiders. They have done this in a hurry as there will soon be new council members who are not from their side.”

It is unclear whether the bill will be considered in the current session of parliament, the last before the NLD takes a majority in both chambers. Myat Nyana Soe, a current NLD lawmaker in the Upper House, told the Irrawaddy he considered it very unlikely that the bill would be approved before the end of January.

“So far it is not a proposed bill. Even if it has been submitted to the parliament, we will have to discuss first whether it deserves any debate. As the parliament is going to close soon, I doubt the draft will be approved in this term,” he said.

Political analyst Yan Myo Thein said that new NLD lawmakers would have to consider what amendments would be possible for the bill when the matter was raised in the next parliament.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: A_Factiva
Kyaw Phyo Tha

Kyaw Phyo Tha

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Inspiring Women of Burma  
Burma

Inspiring Women of Burma  

by The Irrawaddy
March 18, 2016
33.5k

The contributions of some of Burma’s leading female figures are highlighted in the final part of a series that ran...

Read moreDetails
Australian-Karen Actress: ‘I Hope Karen People Will Have the Right to Self-Determination’
Asia

Australian-Karen Actress: ‘I Hope Karen People Will Have the Right to Self-Determination’

by Saw Yan Naing
January 18, 2016
13.7k

Tasneem Roc, an Australian actress who also has ethnic Karen roots, speaks with The Irrawaddy about her career and her...

Read moreDetails
Burma’s Media Landscape Through the Years
Burma

Burma’s Media Landscape Through the Years

by The Irrawaddy
May 4, 2016
13.5k

In the wake of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on Tuesday, The Irrawaddy revisits a history of Burmese media stretching...

Read moreDetails
Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film
Burma

Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film

by Yu Mon Kyaw
January 28, 2016
8.2k

Entitled ‘Gemini,’ Nyo Min Lwin’s film about romance between two men explores ground seldom trod in Burma’s movie industry.

Read moreDetails
Lucky Numbers in the Quest for Peace
Commentary

Lucky Numbers in the Quest for Peace

by Nyein Nyein
September 10, 2015
8.7k

Burmese generals’ edicts have often been intimately tied to numerology and astrology. Is the peace process similarly tied to superstitious...

Read moreDetails
Chief Ministers of Arakan
Burma

Chief Ministers of Arakan, Karen States Resign to Join USDP

by Kyaw Phyo Tha
August 26, 2015
2k

The chief ministers of two states resign to contest Burma’s upcoming general election, set for Nov. 8, representing the ruling...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Lawmakers Sign Off On First Phase of Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone

Lawmakers Sign Off On First Phase of Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone

In Burma’s Dry Zone

In Burma’s Dry Zone, a Unique Forest and Deer Species under Threat

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

1 week ago
2.5k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

3 days ago
939

Most Read

  • Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Advances into Karenni State

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.