Myanmar’s army blocks constitutional reforms
The civilian government had been seeking to limit the generals’ political power
AS THE SHOUTING slalomed around the chamber, Myanmar’s parliamentarians stiffened in shock. They had only just begun debating a number of proposed amendments to the constitution, and tempers were already fraying. One MP, Major-General Tin Swe Win, bellowed repeatedly at the speaker of the house. The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) was hoping to reduce the army’s big role in government, by gradually trimming the number of seats in the national and regional parliaments filled by military appointees like the major-general, among other things. He was not in favour.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Making war and law”
From the March 14th 2020 edition
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