Stop Safeguarding Burma's Constitution!

One of the fundamental barriers preventing genuine reform in Burma is the 2008 Constitution, which guarantees the Military a dominant role in Burma's politics.

Newly elected MPs from Burma's recent by-election must swear an oath to "safeguard" the Constitution, before they are allowed to participate in Parliament.

However, they are not keen on swearing this oath because they must agree to "safeguard" the very Constitution that has oppressed the people of Burma, and therefore the dream of a new Democratic Burmese Parliament is in danger of dying.

To prevent this, the MPs propose to change the single word "safeguard" into "respect." This would preserve the Constitution as it now stands, but also open the door to true democratic reform at some future time, and allow the MPs to enter Parliament and begin the necessary work with a clear conscience.

This is a small window of opportunity to bring democracy to Burma, because Article 130 of the constitution stipulates that newly elected MPs will lose their seats after 15 days if they do not swear to the oath.
Failing to amend it could sideline newly elected MPs and jeopardize the reform.

For more information, https://en.avaaz.org/376/sanctions-lifted--gold-rush-on/r21