Ethnic umbrella group to submit constitutional amendment draft to CRJC

Ethnic umbrella group to submit constitutional amendment draft to CRJC

Published on Thursday, 12 September 2013 20:44

NBF held Constitution Review Joint Committee meeting in Nay Pyi Taw during July

The Nationalities Brotherhood Federation (NBF), comprised of 15 ethnic parties, will draft its constitutional amendment and submit it to the Constitution Review Joint Committee established by parliament, said NBF member Salaing Kyeobeek, general secretary of Chin National Party.

The joint committee includes some MPs who are party members of the NBF. These MPs will address amendments to the 2008 Constitution at the NBF's special meeting.

The NBF has proposed clauses to amend, and it will to try to finalize them at the upcoming meeting, said the general secretary.

The constitutional amendment draft has been sent to legal experts for review. The NBF will have to call a meeting soon as the review committee is due to submit its findings on constitutional amendments by December 31, said Salaing Kyeobeek.

"If the constitutional amendment draft is finalized, we will stick to it as a principle while making determined efforts to achieve the principle both inside and outside of parliament," he added.

The NBF as well as ceasefire groups (especially ethnics inside the country) are still negotiating the possibility of holding an ethnic conference outside of parliament ahead of the Union Conference.

Whatever conference is convened, the NBF will stick to its principles, said the general secretary.
The Union Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) formed a committee to write the federal constitution draft, which is to be drawn up before the end of November.

The constitution amendment committee of the opposition party is also submitting its findings on the constitutional amendment to the review committee depending on the outcome of meetings with ethnic parties.

The NBF includes the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (White Tiger), Chin National Party, All Mon Regions Democracy Party, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, Phalon-Sawal Democratic Party, Kayan Nationalities Party, Inn National Development Party, Talaing (Shan Red) National Development Party, Danu National Democracy Party, Asho Chin National Party, Taaung (Palaung) National Party, Pa-O National Federation, Wa Democratic Party, Wa National Unity Party and National Races Development Party.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/09/13/ethnic-umbrella-group-to-submit-constitutional-amendment-draft-to-crjc/