Myanmar Coup: Parliament Revokes Military-Made Constitution, Ready To Announce A Unified Government

JAKARTA - The Representative Committee of the Myanmar Parliament (CRPH) announced plans to form a national unity government in the first week of April, to work on eliminating the dictatorship and drafting a new constitution.

According to the 20-page Federal Democracy Charter, which was announced to the public on Wednesday evening, the unity government will consist of a president, state advisers, two vice presidents, a prime minister, a minister, and a deputy.

"It will work to overthrow the military regime of Myanmar by using political, economic, social means, through foreign affairs, through diplomacy, defense, and security", according to the Charter quoted by The Irrawaddy.

The charter outlines an initial agreement on the creation of federal democratic unity and a provisional constitutional arrangement before the country adopts a new constitution that can guarantee equality and autonomy through a national referendum.

Charter members include elected parliamentarians prevented from taking parliamentary seats by the February 1 coup, pro-democracy political parties, leaders of general strikes, and civil society groups as well as armed ethnic groups, the CRPH stated.

Following the issuance of the Federal Democratic Charter to the public, the CRPH also announced the repeal of the 2008 Constitution, saying that it was designed to extend military rule and prevent the emergence of a democratic federal union.

Designed by the military regime at the time, the 2008 constitution automatically grants the military a quarter of parliamentary seats and three ministerial posts along with other special powers, privileges, and immunity from prosecution for human rights abuses.

The military declared a one-year state of emergency on February 1 after As of Wednesday, Myanmar military regime's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) data has killed at least 536 people, arrested more than 2.700 people including elected leaders, lawmakers, political activists, student protesters, and the workers protesting the coup.

In response to the CRPH announcement of the Federal Democratic Charter and the abolition of the 2008 Constitution, residents in Yangon fired fireworks and applauded in the middle of the night despite the regime's night patrols.

People in several cities started Thursday by burning copies of the military-drafted 2008 Constitution.

The CRPH was formed by elected MPs from the National League for Democracy (NLD) who were barred from taking seats in Myanmar's Parliament by a February 1 coup. The military regime has declared the CRPH an association that broke the law and guaranteed its members under charges of sedition.

Regarding the Myanmar Coup. VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news surrounding the Myanmar military coup by tapping on this link.