Myanmar MPs to take home lessons on India

The executive accountability to the legislature, freedom of the media, committee system and the provision of dedicated television channels of the two Houses have fascinated the 10 MPs from Myanmar, who have come here for an orientation programme organised by the Indian Parliament for them.

"We would flag these key features of the parliamentary democracy in India when we go back home and report to our Speaker," Myat Nyarna Soe, belonging to Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), told The Indian Express on Wednesday.

Notwithstanding the bitter past, people across party lines are enthused over the process of national re-conciliation and democratisation undertaken by President Thein Sein. "We expect her (Suu Kyi) to participate in the Parliament session, which started today," said Ti Khun Myat of the dominant Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

Called Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the Assembly of the Union is the bicameral legislature of Myanmar, established by the 2008 National Constitution. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw comprises two Houses — the 224-member upper house Amyotha Hluttaw and the 440-member lower house Pyithu Hluttaw.

On the issue of political prisoners, there are no two opinions among the visiting MPs. "We will bring a motion for the release of political prisoners," Myat Nyarna Soe said. As it is, the NLD MP said, "There are very few political prisoners left and none belongs to my party."

When asked about restrictions on the Myanmar MPs sharing information about Parliamentary proceedings outside, Ti Khun Myat said there was no blanket ban. "It is only with regard to the matters concerning security and other related matters," he said.

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