Expelled By The Military, 70 Members Of Myanmar Parliament Are Desperate To Hold An Oath-taking Session

JAKARTA - As many as 70 lawmakers from the National League for Democracy (NLD) held an 'impromptu' parliamentary session to take the oath of office on Thursday local time.

The ceremony was held after the military gave an ultimatum to elected parliamentarians to leave the Myanmar capital region of Naypyitaw. This oath-taking is carried out at a government guesthouse because the Parliament Building is controlled by the Myanmar military.

Of the approximately 400 elected Members of Parliament, the majority chose to leave Naypyitaw. Those who remained chose to take their oaths, even though they were rejected by the military.

Daw Phyu Phyu Thin, a re-elected NLD lawmaker, described Thursday's event as a "parliamentary hearing" saying the issue of location doesn't matter as long as there are MPs present.

"No one can rob the legitimacy status of members of parliament given to us by the people. That is why we swear as members of parliament - for the people,” he said, condemning the military regime that carried out the coup and suing State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and the President for ridiculous accusations, as reported by The Irrawaddy.

"Other lawmakers who have returned home will soon take their oaths online," he continued.

On Thursday afternoon, people across the country joined a rally to welcome the MPs' oath-taking.