NLD to Discipline Lawmaker After Extramarital Affair
By Htet Naing Zaw 10 October 2016
RANGOON — The National League for Democracy (NLD) will discipline its lawmaker representing Irrawaddy Division’s Myaungmya Township in the Lower House after news of his extramarital affair went viral on social media.
NLD spokesperson U Win Htein said lawmaker Dr Soe Moe Thu will be punished “in line with the party’s rules and regulations.”
Dr Soe Moe Thu’s wife filed a lawsuit at No. 9 Police Station in Mandalay on Sunday accusing her husband of adultery.
“We’ve already warned him once, but he denied [having an extramarital affair] at that time,” U Win Htein told The Irrawaddy. “Now, he can’t deny it. So, our party discipline enforcement committee will take action against him. We have already cancelled his foreign trip,” he said.
“[Dr Soe Moe] will be subject to an internal investigation. Witnesses from both sides will be questioned,” said NLD Rangoon Division deputy information officer U Soe Win Oo. “The maximum penalty is expulsion from the party. Or he may be suspended for a certain period.”
It is the second scandal to rock Burma’s most popular political party in a week. Last Thursday, A Rangoon motel filed a lawsuit against NLD lawmaker U Nyan Linn, accusing him and two friends of swearing, threatening and drunkenly fighting with motel staff.
Political commentator Dr Yan Myo Thein told The Irrawaddy that these recent scandals suggest that Burma is in need of impeachment legislation that grants citizens the “right to recall.”
“People should have the right to recall if they do not like the representatives they have elected.” Dr Yan Myo Thein said. “Only when the fundamental rights of voters are put first, will the parliament be able to serve the interests of the people.”
U Tin Aye, former chairman of the Union Election Commission, in August last year urged U Shwe Mann, the then speaker of the Union Parliament, to enact legislation on recalling lawmakers as soon as possible. However, lawmakers voted to suspend the bill.
