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Myanmar's ruling party expresses regret over constitution amendment voting result

Xinhua, June 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar's ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has expressed regret over the voting result of the constitution amendment bill, submitted by the party to the parliament, according to the party's Union Daily Friday issue.

Of the proposed change for six key sections of the constitution, only one section was passed, while the five others were vetoed on Thursday as the number of voters stood less than the required 75 percent to get the bill approved.

USDP said the constitution amendment bill for the six sections was submitted at an appropriate time for the interest of the country and the people but met with defeat but only one.

The party would continue to work for gaining for the citizens' rights and its desire, USDP's statement added.

Meanwhile, leader of the National league for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi commented the voting result as no surprise, pointing out that although the USDP-submitted constitution amendment was not effective enough to help the country's reform, the vetoing of such amendment indicates reluctance for the reform.

Denying the failure to amend the majority of the sections of the constitution as a defeat, Aung San Suu Kyi maintained that the amendment issue would not impact on her party in the course of heading towards the upcoming general election as lots of things remain to be done.

After three days' debate, Myanmar's parliament on Thursday vetoed amendment for five key sections of the constitution, 59 (f) , 436(a), 436 (b), 60 (c) and 418 (b) but one which is Section 59 (d) dealing with the qualification of a presidential candidate.

Through a secret ballot system, the voting was done by 583 MPs out of 633. Of the 583 MPs, 166 are directly appointed by the military without being elected by the people.

Voting on other sections of the 2008 constitution in the USDP- submitted amendment bill will continue next week, according to the parliament.

The constitution was promulgated in May 2008 to serve as a base for November 2010 general election.

The present term of the government which started from March 2011 is to expire in March 2016. Endi