[While
campaigning before elections in November, she pledged to be “above” the
president if her party, the National League for Democracy, was victorious. It
swept the elections and now controls both houses of Parliament with large
majorities.]
By Wai Moe and Richard C. Paddock
 |
Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing,the
armed forces chief,
in Naypyidaw, the capital, last week.Ms.
Aung San Suu Kyi will become
“state counselor”under
a measure approved on Tuesday by Parliament’s
lower
house. Credit Pool photo by Nyein Chan Naing
|
YANGON,
Myanmar — Myanmar’s
democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, foiled by military leaders in her bid
to become president, would become “state counselor” under a measure approved on
Tuesday by Parliament’s lower house. The newly created role could give her
authority exceeding the president’s.
Military
members of Parliament denounced the measure as an unconstitutional power grab, stood
up in the chamber in protest and boycotted the vote.
The
measure, approved last week by Parliament’s upper house, will now go to
President Htin Kyaw for his signature. The president is a close ally of Ms.Aung
San Suu Kyi whom she chose for the job.
While
campaigning before elections in November, she pledged to be “above” the
president if her party, the National League for Democracy, was victorious. It
swept the elections and now controls both houses of Parliament with large
majorities.
The
military-drafted Constitution bars Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate,
from becoming president because her children are British citizens.
The
position of state counselor would allow her to coordinate the activities of
Parliament and the executive branch. She also holds the positions of minister
of the president’s office and foreign minister.
Last
week, she took on two more ministerial positions — education and energy — but
she gave up those posts this week.
The
combination of jobs means that she will oversee the president’s office, determine
foreign policy and coordinate decision-making between the executive branch and
parliamentary leaders. It is unclear what responsibilities that will leave for
the president.
U
Yan Myo Thein, a political commentator in Yangon , the country’s major city, said that it was
not surprising Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and the military would clash but
that he had not expected a dispute so soon. He said it could jeopardize
relations between the military and civilian leaders in the coming years.
But
U Tun Tun Hein, a National League for Democracy parliamentary leader and
chairman of the lower house’s bill drafting committee, played down the
disagreement.
“I
don’t see the discussion and debate from the bill as a problem between the N.L.D.
and the military,” he said. “It is the beginning of democracy in practice. There
will be agreement and disagreement.”
U
Kyaw Win, a Yangon writer, said that he was disappointed by the
dispute and that he feared it could slow progress in reducing the military’s
role in politics.
“How could we hold dialogue with the military
with this tension?” he asked. “Politicians should maneuver strategically in
dealing with the military, since we can’t send them back to the barracks
overnight.”
The
military, known as the Tatmadaw, ruled the country for more than half a century,
and only in the last few years has it allowed democracy to emerge.
The
military dictatorship kept Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for 15 years
and ensured that she could not serve as president by including the
constitutional prohibition effectively disqualifying her.
The
Constitution gives the military a quarter of the seats in Parliament and
assigns it the role of protecting the Constitution.
Col.
Aung Thiha, one of the military members of the lower house, objected to the
bill giving Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi new authority, in part because it identified
her by name.
“The
bill goes against separation of powers and violates the Constitution,” he said.
“Although this is a multiparty system, the bill is about a party leader. If our
Tatmadaw’s voices are not considered and accepted, we won’t join in voting on
the bill.”
The
former president, U Thein Sein, who stepped down last week after paving the way
for the historic change in power, shaved his head, put on a robe and became a
monk on Monday for five days, according to the Ministry of Information. It is
common in Myanmar
Wai Moe reported from Yangon ,
and Richard C. Paddock from Bangkok .
