Three members of an NLD-led panel to amend Myanmar’s military-drafted constitution have quit in response to the way the ruling party is handling the process.

The parliamentary committee, which until this week had 45 members, has submitted a report with more than 3,700 suggestions for changes to the controversial charter, which entrenches the military’s role in politics.

But some feel the NLD, which has the most MPs on the committee, is ignoring the wishes of ethnic parties who would like to see swifter action to remove the military from politics and establish a federal system.

Myanmar Now sat down in Nay Pyi Taw with Sein Win, one of the MPs who quit the panel on Monday. Sein Win is a former NLD member who left the party to form the National United Democratic Party two years ago.

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Myanmar Now: Why did you quit the joint committee?

They held a meeting on 29 August to select a bill out of the compilation of the draft bills. I asked them to use the secret ballot system instead of a show of hands to vote on the bill. I told them it was the only way for the 45 members to vote freely and that it would be the best for the country. I requested this twice. Two or three members from the ethnic parties agreed with my request, but they rejected it in the end with a load of excuses.

After the joint committee’s meeting, when we started drafting the bill, I noticed only proposals by that one big party [the NLD] were passed. None of the proposals by the ethnic people from the smaller parties were approved. If we continue like this, all the amendments in the constitution will be done by one party only, we will lose face with the ethnic people. I see it as bullying, and I quit because I don’t want to be part of it. I don’t want to go down in history as one of those responsible for the mistakes and weaknesses of constitutional amendment.

How did committee officials respond when you requested a change to the voting system?

They said the joint committee members were selected by the parties and we used the show-of-hands voting system because party members must follow their party’s directions. They explained to me that they must comply with the party’s policy. It was very sad.

When you say party, do you mean the NLD?

Yes.

A show-of-hands voting system won’t allow NLD members, the majority in the committee, to vote freely, but the secret ballot system would allow them to do so...

That’s right. They would have a chance to vote freely and choose the truth.

What did the committee officials say when you submitted your resignation letter?

The committee officials haven’t said a thing regarding my resignation.

Which decisions from the first joint committee meeting do you disagree with?

For example, there is a section in chapter 1 that enables the defence services “to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the State.” The ethnic parties, including me, want to abolish this section. But the NLD, the big party, wrote that the defence services can still participate in political matters. This is not following the original aim of establishing a federal union system.

What was the Tatmadaw’s contribution to the constitutional amendment meetings?

The Tatmadaw just observed. They did nothing unusual. They didn’t vote. They just listened and gave casual suggestions. They didn’t participate actively, they just observed as if they were trying to decipher the others.

How about the USDP representatives?

They acted the same way.

And the ethnic parties?

All ethnic people are affected by the constitution but only 14 members of the joint committee are ethnic people. So they have only 14 votes and they don’t agree with each other. The Mons want to amend this way, the Rakhines want another way, and the Shans don’t agree with either of them. I can’t bear to watch them. It’s a waste of time with no benefit. The amendments will happen under the big party’s direction, with or without me. I decided to just quit because it would be the same outcome with or without me.

How likely do you think it is that the constitution will be amended, given that the military can veto changes under chapter 12?

The draft bill will reach the union parliament for sure. But the bill won’t fulfil the constitutional amendment committee’s goals as it will have weaknesses, mainly on the matter of the federal union system that ethnic people desire.

Some think that amendments will never happen because of chapter 12. But I think the NLD are trying to amend the constitution because they have the ability to overcome chapter 12. I can’t say for sure how they plan to overcome it though.

So the NLD party can make it happen one way or another even if they can’t amend everything they want to?

I mean we can have a new constitution if the defence services stay in the middle like they are now and cooperate with the union parliament. But the new constitution might include some sections favoured by the military and might not be up to standard.

You said previously that the military will only agree to change the wording in some political and military sections.

Yes. Like I said before, the ethnic people want the military out of politics. They want to abolish the section. But the NLD-led joint committee didn’t abolish it. I don’t want to blame them anymore. If they want to negotiate with the military due to the current situation, it is fine by me. The NLD is the ruling party. But it is necessary to consider some proposals by the ethnic people. If the committee continues to opt for the show-of-hands voting system, the ethnic people won’t be able to amend a thing. 

Do you mean the NLD aims to amend only the sections that the military might support?

You can say that. I think so too. We have only finished chapter 1. It will be clearer after other chapters are finished.

You became an MP representing the NLD and then you quit the party. Now you have resigned from the joint committee. There is some criticism that you quit the committee just to put the NLD in a difficult position. 

I work for the people, the country and the truth. I want them to follow these objectives, but what they’re doing is totally different from these objectives. I can’t just sit still at the joint committee meetings, I will talk. Then I might become an obstacle for the NLD. I quit because I don’t want to be on the same boat with them. No black hand was behind me when I founded the National United Democratic Party after I quit the NLD. I used my meagre savings to found the party so that I can help poor farmers as I am an agriculturist myself. I have faced many difficulties.