MP's object to amend '82 Citizenship Law

MP's object to amend '82 Citizenship Law

Published on Thursday, 13 June 2013 19:56

A number of MP's have objected to plans to amend Myanmar's 1982 Citizenship Law that is due to be submitted for review in Parliament.

The government is planning to amend Myanmar Citizenship Law enacted in 1982 in the time of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Myanmar, according to sources in Parliament. Lower House MP, Ba Shein of the Rakhine National Development Party has said that the law was of great value for the country and does not need to be changed.

"This law was to protect State’s security and stability and ethnic affairs. The '82 law does not need to be amended. The law indicates that if someone is a national, he or she must be a citizen. The amendment to the law is aimed at changing illegal immigrants into legal ones. It is unnatural," said Ba Shein.

Furthermore, MP's opposed to any review of the law have argued that the bill has to be submitted one month ahead to Parliament, which makes any amendment too late for submission.

"The current amendment bill is now too late for submission to Parliament and it is unlikely to be debated in the parliament," Saw Hla Tun, secretary of Lower House’s Bill Committee, told Eleven Media.

Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the opposition National League for Democracy has argued in a recent debate that Myanmar must reassess the law to firstly see if all those entitled to citizenship have been fully naturalized.

"Firstly we must asses if all those who are entitled to citizenship in accordance to the 1982 law have been given full citizenship. Secondly, we must reassess the 1982 law to see if it is in line with international norms," said the MP at the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

Many see the 1982 Citizenship Law as controversial because it prevents many Muslim communities in Rakhine state from claiming full citizenship because it requires proof of having lived in the country for over three generations. Sectarian violence has been spreading to different towns and cities in Myanmar since clashes between Buddhists and Muslims erupted in Rakhine state in 2012.

Members of the Unity for Peace Network (UPC), a Myanmar-based Muslim organisation, said in a recent forum that they reject the 1982 Citizenship Law because it discriminates against communities based on their religion.

"We do not accept Myanmar's 1982 Citizenship Law. Myanmar's major religion is Buddhism. But some of them are now American citizens, some Singaporeans, and some Australians. So we don't accept the (1982) law as the citizenship has nothing to do with the religion," said Aye Lwin from UPC.

However, any amendments to the '82 Law will face a stiff opposition. Hla Swe of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party said that they will object to any amendments in Parliament.

"In my opinion, the Law prevents Muslims entering Rakhine State though  Buthedaung and Maungdaw. Even with the prevention against the spread of aliens, 96 percent of population in Rakhine State are Bengalis. If the law is amended, problems will appear, so as for me, I consider that it should not be amended," said MP Hla Swe.