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Myanmar parliament adopts suffrage of white card holders

Xinhua, February 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar's parliament has adopted suffrage of white card holders, allowing them to vote on the national referendum bill on constitution amendment, local media reported Tuesday.

The adoption was made following debate on the voting rights of such holders of temporary identification documents (white card) that amount to 1.5 million, mostly Bengali Muslim, in far-flung areas of Myanmar's western Rakhine state.

The passing of the decision by Myanmar parliament came amid some opposition by some MPs.

The parliament has adopted a draft nationwide referendum bill during its last session on the constitution amendment and the referendum is set to take place in May before a general election continues in October/November.

In its last session ended in November 2014, the parliament also adopted a proposal to hold six-party talks on domestic political issues involving the president, the defense chief, Aung San Suu Kyi, speakers of the Lower and Upper Houses and one ethnic representative.

Myanmar's current 12th parliament session resumed in Nay Pyi Taw on Jan. 19, in which constitution amendment and its related referendum are among the many issues being raised for discussion. Endi