Myanmar military appoints familiar faces to parliament



YANGON: -- The Myanmar Times said in its lead story on Thursday that as the military MPs selected to serve in the incoming parliament are confirmed, attention is turning to how they will interact with the majority National League for Democracy members elected last November.

Under the constitution drafted by the military regime in 2008, one-quarter of the seats in both houses of the Union parliament, as well as the state and regional parliaments, are allotted automatically to officers designated by the commander-in-chief of the military, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

In the outgoing parliament, which was dominated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party comprising primarily retired officers, military MPs served as a kind of silent parliamentary reserve for the ruling party.

Now that the USDP majority elected in 2010 has been ejected by the voters, the uniformed MPs will dominate the opposition benches.

The military delegation to be seated on February 1, when the next parliament opens, will be led by very senior officers. Major General Tauk Tun and Maj Gen Than Htut Thein will take up seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house, while Maj Gen Than Soe will sit in the Amyotha Hluttaw, the upper house.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147682


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-22

Worth remembering that the military party retains significant 'influence' in certain ministries. So not strictly an opposition but more a critical and watchful part of an uneasy coalition that, hopefully, will work. Still is dependent on the acquiescence of the ethnic majority heartland to make the country a functioning Union of States. A lot has been done but the difficulties are not overcome by any means. Opposition is technically treasonable in Myanmar unless allowed in law.