PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

8 January 2006

From The New Light of Myanmar 9 January 2006

The Plenary Meeting of National Convention Continues

Detailed basic principles explained by the Work Committee Chairman should be adopted

YANGON, 8 Jan— The following is a translation of suggestions submitted to the plenary session of the National Convention by U Tun Kyaw of Namhsan Township Constituency, Shan State (North), regarding the detailed basic principles for legislation of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the Pyithu Hluttaw, the Amyotha Hluttaw, and Region or State Hluttaw in formulating the State Constitution collectively presented by the three Independent Representatives-elect — Dr Hmu Htan of Htantalan Township Constituency, U Aung Thein of Ywangan Township Constituency, Shan State (South); and U Tun Kyaw of Namhsan Township Constituency, Shan State (North) — on 5 January at Nyaunghnapin Camp in Hmawby Township, Yangon Division.

I am now going to present the excerpts of our compilation concerning the legislation of the Region and State Hluttaws.

At the plenary session of the National Convention the Work Committee Chairman explained the following detailed basic principles:

“1. (a) The day the term of Region or State Hluttaw comes into force is that of the Pyithu Hluttaw.

(b) The first regular session of Region or State Hluttaw shall be convened within 15 days after the commencement of the term of the Hluttaw.

2. (a) The State Peace and Development Council shall convene the first regular session of Region or State Hluttaws after the Constitution has come into force.

(b) The Speaker of Region or State Hluttaw who continues to perform his duties in accordance with the provisions of the

Constitution shall convene the first regular session for the next terms of Region or State Hluttaw.

3. (a) Members of Region or State Hluttaws shall take oaths before the chairman of Region or State Hluttaw at the first regular session of Region or State Hluttaw.

(b) Members of Region or State Hluttaw who have not taken oaths, shall take oath before the Speaker of the Hluttaw at the session of the Region or State Hluttaw they first attend.

4. The Speaker of the Region or State Hluttaw shall convene the regular session of the Region or State Hluttaw at least once a year. The interval between two regular sessions shall not exceed 12 months.

5. The following matters are carried out at the session of the Region or State Hluttaw:

(a) Recording the address delivered by the Union President.

(b) Reading out and recording messages sent by the President and other messages permitted by the Speaker.

(d) Submitting, discussing and making decision on a bill.

(e) Discussing and deciding the matters the Region or State Hluttaw shall implement in accordance with provisions of the Constitution and the existing laws.

(f) Discussing, deciding and recording the reports presented to the Region or State Hluttaw.

(g) Submitting proposals, holding discussions and making decisions.

(h) Raising questions and giving replies.

(i) Implementing matters permitted by Speaker of Region or State Hluttaw.

6. (a) Speaker of respective Region or State Hluttaw can convene special session or emergency session of Region or State Hluttaws if necessary.

(b) Speaker of respective Region or State Hluttaw shall convene a special or emergency session of region or state as soon as possible when the Region or State Chief Minister informs to do so.

(c) Speaker of respective Region or State Hluttaws shall convene a special session of region or state as soon as possible if at least one-fourth of the Region or State Hluttaw members ask to convene it.

7. (a) The first day session of the Region or State Hluttaw is valid if more than half the number of members who have the right to attend the session of the Region or State Hluttaw, are present. The session if invalid shall be adjourned.

(b) The sessions that are adjourned due to invalidity in accordance with the sub-para (a) as well as the valid sessions that are extended are valid if at least one-third of the Hluttaw members, who have the right to attend a session of Region or State Hluttaw are present.

8. (a) Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, a matter that should be decided through voting in the Region or State Hluttaw shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting.

(b) The Speaker of the Region or State Hluttaw or the Deputy Speaker discharging duties as the Speaker shall not vote in the first instance in the sessions of the Region or State Hluttaws, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the matters of an equality of votes.

9. If for a period of 15 consecutive days a member of Region or State Hluttaw is, without permission of the Hluttaw, absent from a session of Region or State Hluttaw, the Region or State Hluttaw can declare the seat of the Region or State Hluttaw member vacant in accordance with prescribed provisions. In computing the said period of 15 days,, no account shall be taken of any period during which the session is prorogued, or is adjourned.

10. Although there are vacant seats, the Region or State Hluttaw shall have the right to carry out its tasks. Moreover, the session shall not be annulled, if the acts of some person who was not entitled to do so sat or voted or took part in the proceedings are discovered later.

11. The functions and records of the Region or State Hluttaw shall be published for public information. But, the functions and records restricted by a law or decisions of the Region or State Hluttaw shall not be published.

12. Region or State Hluttaw has the power to make laws for the whole or any part of the Region or State concerning matters stated in the Region or State Legislative List.

13. (a) When the Region or State Hluttaw enacts a law, it may —

(1) entrust the right to issue bylaws, rules and regulations concerning the law to a region or state level organization formed under the Constitution.

(2) authorize the organization or authority to issue notifications, orders, directives and procedures concerning the law.

(b) The bylaws, rules, regulations, notifications, orders, directives and procedures issued with the right vested by a law shall be consonant with the stipulations contained in the Constitution and the law concerned.

(c) after issuing a bylaw, rules or regulations under the law enacted by Region or State Hluttaw, the organization concerned shall circulate the bylaw, rules or regulations to Hluttaw members during the nearest regular session of the Region or State Hluttaw with the arrangement permitted by the Hluttaw Speaker.

(d) If the bylaw, rules or regulations are found to be not consonant with the provisions of the law concerned, Region or State Hluttaw members can submit a proposal to annul or amend the by law, rules or regulations to Region or State Hluttaw within 90 days from the date they are circulated.

(e) If a decision is made by Region or State Hluttaw to annul or amend a bylaw, rules or regulations, the decision shall not affect however without prejudice to the validity of any action previously taken under the bylaw, rules or regulations.

14. (a) Matters that requires decision, assent and approval of Region or State Hluttaw shall be implemented as follows:

(1) If the Region or State Hluttaw is in session, the matter shall be decided at that session.

(2) If the Region or State Hluttaw is not in session, the discussions and decisions on the matter shall be made at the nearest Region or State Hluttaw session.

(3) A special session or an emergency session shall be convened to discuss and decide the matters which need prompt action for public interest.

15. (a) Of the matters included in the Region or State Legislative List, the Region or State level organizations formed under the Constitution, can submit bills on matters under their management to the Region or State Hluttaw in accordance with the prescribed provisions.

(b) Bills on region or state plans, annual budgets and taxation which are to be submitted exclusively by the Region or State Government shall be submitted to the Region or State Hluttaw in accordance with the prescribed provisions.

16. Of the matters included in the Region or State Legislative List, except those prescribed under the Constitution to be submitted exclusively by the Region or State Government, the Region or State Hluttaw members can submit bills on other matters in accordance with the prescribed provisions.

17. Region or State Hluttaw shall make a decision when Region or State Government submits region or state budget in accordance with the prescribed provisions.

18. (a) The Region or State Chief Minister shall

(1) sign the bill approved by the Region or State Hluttaw and promulgate it as a law, within seven days after receiving it.

(2) sign the bill approved by the Self-Administered Region leading body and promulgate it as a law, within 14 days after receiving it.

(b) Although the Region or State Chief Minister does not sign the bill and promulgate it as a law with the fixed time, the bill shall come into force in like manner as if he had signed it on the last date of the fixed time.

(c) The bills signed by the Region or State Chief Minister and bills which have come into force in like manner as if they were signed by him, shall be promulgated in the Union Gazette. The laws shall come into force on the date of such promulgation unless the contrary intention are expressed.

19. (a) Of the members of a region or state level organization formed under the Constitution, members of Region or State Hluttaw shall have the right of discussing and voting concerning bills or matters related to their organizations in the Hluttaw sessions.

(b) Of the members of a region or state level organization formed under the Constitution, those members who are not Region or State Hluttaw members while attending the session with the permission of Hluttaw Speaker shall have the right of discussing concerning bills or matters related to their organizations.

20. The Speaker of Region or State Hluttaw shall—

(a) supervise Region or State Hluttaw sessions.

(b) invite the Union President if he informs him of his desire to address the Region or State Hluttaw session.

(d) have the right, if necessary, to invite members or persons of region or state level organization formed under the Constitution to the Region or State Hluttaw session to make clarification as regards matters under discussion.

(e) perform other duties and responsibilities entrusted by the Constitution or a law.

21. (a) Subject to the provisions stated in the Constitution and provisions stipulated in the Region or State Hluttaw Law, members of Region or State Hluttaw have freedom of speech and voting at the Region or State Hluttaw as well as at Region or State Hluttaw committee and organization. Concerning the discussions and functions , a Region or State Hluttaw member shall be privileged except under the Region or State Hluttaw Law.

(b) Subject to the provisions stated in the Constitution and provisions stipulated in the Region or State Hluttaw Law, members or persons who are permitted or invited to attend Region or State Hluttaw session have freedom of speech at the Region or State Hluttaw or Region or State Hluttaw committee and organizations. Concerning such discussions, they shall be privileged except under the Region or State Hluttaw Law.

(c) Action shall be taken against those members stated in sub-para (a) and (b) in accordance with the existing laws if they make physical assault in enjoying the privileges.

22. (a) If there arises a need to arrest a Region or State Hluttaw member attending a Region or State Hluttaw session or a person attending the Hluttaw session with the permission or at the invitation of the Hluttaw Speaker, the reliable evidence shall be submitted to the Hluttaw Speaker. He shall not be arrested without prior permission of the Hluttaw Speaker.

(b) If there arises a need to arrest a member of a committee or an organization formed by the Region or State Hluttaw attending a session of the committee or organization, the reliable evidence shall be submitted to the Hluttaw Speaker through the head of the committee or organization concerned. He shall not be arrested without prior permission of the Hluttaw Speaker.

(c) If there arises a need to arrest a member of Region or State Hluttaw or committee or organization formed by the Hluttaw while the Hluttaw or the committee or the organization is not in session, reliable evidence in support of such arrest shall promptly be submitted to the Region or State Hluttaw Speaker.

23. The reports, documents and records published by the Region or State Hluttaw or under its authority shall be privileged.”

As Work Committee Chairman’s explanations are comprehensive and appropriate, I have no further discussions concerning the matter. The detailed basic principles explained by the Work Committee Chairman should be adopted for the Constitution.

Members of the delegate group of workers make a suggestion that the explanations of the Work Committee Chairman be adopted

YANGON, 8 Jan— The following is a translation of suggestions of Delegate Group of Workers submitted to the plenary session of the National Convention by U Nyein Maung of Lashio Township, Shan State (North) regarding the detailed basic principles for legislation of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the Pyithu Hluttaw, the Amyotha Hluttaw, and Region or State Hluttaw in formulating the State Constitution on 6 January at Nyaunghnapin Camp in Hmawby Township, Yangon Division.

Representatives of the delegate group of Workers U Min Myint Maung Lay of Chaungzon Township, Mon State, and U Poe Rai Aung Thein of Loikaw Township in Kayah State, U Tha Aye of Yanbye Township, Rakhine State, and I will present the paper of the delegate group of workers regarding the detailed basic principles for legislative functions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the Pyithu Hluttaw, the Amyotha Hluttaw, and Region or State Hluttaw in formulating the State Constitution.

At the plenary session of the National Convention held on 13 December 2005, the Chairman of the National Convention Convening Work Committee explained matters related to the detailed basic principles for legislative functions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. He made clarification in accordance with the prevailing situations of our nation referring the legislative functions related to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaws prescribed in the constitutions of others nations, and legislative functions related to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw prescribed in the 1947 Constitution and the 1974 Constitution. His explanation contributed towards our compiling this paper regarding the detailed basic principles for legislative functions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. So, we representatives of the delegate group of workers thank him for his invaluable explanation.

The National Convention Convening Work Committee Chairman, regarding the legislative functions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, explained matters on the adoption of the detailed basic principles to convene the regular sessions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, and the vesting of the power to convene the first regular session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw with the Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; the fixing of the number regular sessions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to be held at least in a year; the person or body who convenes regular sessions, the addressing of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw sessions occasionally by the President, the President’s sending messages, recording of such speeches and messages, and other messages; the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker’s scrutinizing, reading and recording; submission, discussing and approving of bills prescribed by the Constitution; raising queries by members at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; replying of respective administrative bodies and members to such questions; attendance of heads of other nations at the sessions to deliver a speech if their visits coincide with the sessions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; detailed basic principles for special or emergency meetings of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; the power of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker to convene sessions if need arises to convene a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session or an emergency session in the times that the President, as well as the administrative head, has to tackle extraordinary situations on political, security, economic and social affairs of the State; and fixing of quorum necessary for validity of sessions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

The National Convention Convening Work Committee Chairman also explained matters on making a decision through votes of members of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the right of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker’s right to cast decisive vote for the matters the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has to decide; adoption of detailed basic principles regarding Pyidaungsu Hluttaw members who are absent for many days successively from Hluttaw session without permission of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker; ensuring validity of decisions and activities of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw even if it is discovered later that a person who was not entitled to do so sat or voted or took part in the proceedings, when there are vacant seats for members in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw for various reasons; public information about activities of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; matter in which the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has to approve the bill that has been approved by the Pyithu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw regarding matters for which the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is vested with power to enact a law; issuing of bylaws, rules, regulations, notifications, directives and procedures in the name of a body or authority in the law enacted by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the power of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to revoke and amend them if they are not in conformity with the Constitution or the law concerned. The explanations of the Work Committee Chairman are proper, so they should be adopted into detailed basic principles.

The Work Committee Chairman discussed matters on participation of the Union of Myanmar in tasks of international and regional bodies, signing treaties and ratifying agreements with international and regional countries; power of the President to issue an ordinance to take a prompt action for matters such as State security; a matter to be handled by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to decide to approve or not such an ordinance; power of Union level bodies formed under the Constitution including Union government and Union Supreme Court to submit a bill in accord with the procedures regarding their administrative mattes; annual budget; bills on taxation and laying down national level plans; discussing bills, that are submitted to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, at the Pyithu Hluttaw or the Amyotha Hluttaw; ways, if necessary, to handle the bills, to be decided only at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, after scrutinizing them; seeking the approval of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw if the Pyithu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw do not reach an agreement to handle a bill; sending the bills to the President approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the bills that shall be presumed as though they were approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; promulgation of laws under the signature of the President and issuing them; sending the bills to the President approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the bills that shall be presumed as though they were approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; promulgation of laws under the signature of the President; issuing in the Union gazette the laws signed by the President and the laws that shall be presumed as though they were signed by the President and fixing a date for these laws to come into force. We members of the delegate group of workers make a suggestion that the explanations of the Work Committee Chairman be adopted.

Besides that, the Work Committee Chairman explained matters on power to be vested in members representing Union level bodies to attend, submit and discuss at the session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw regarding the bills and matters submitted to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw for approval; duties and rights of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker prescribed under the Constitution or a law; the right of the Union level body concerned formed under the Constitution to submit its matters to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; power to be vested in members of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to submit and discuss proposal and raise queries; prohibition of physical insults in enjoying these rights; the right of members representing a Union level body and persons invited to a session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw to enjoy freedom of speech at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw subject to the provisions of respective laws of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; ways to arrest a member of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw attending a Hluttaw session if need arises; ways to arrest a person attending a session under the permission or at the invitation of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Patron; and legal privileges on records and documents published by or in the name of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The explanations are proper, so they should be adopted into detailed basic principles.

Regarding the detailed basic principles for legislative functions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in formulating the State Constitution, I would like to present the suggestions of the delegate group of workers that the following points—

(1) “The first session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw should be held within 15 days after the beginning of the first session of the Pyithu Hluttaw”.

The Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall convene the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.”

(2) “The Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall convene the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session at least once a year. The maximum time limit between one meeting and another should not exceed 12 months”

(3) The following tasks shall be carried out at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meetings:

(a) Recording the address delivered by the President

(b) Reading out and the recording the message sent by the President and other messages permitted by the President

(d) Discussing and deciding the opinion and remarks of the President concerning a bill approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw

(e) Discussing and deciding the matter the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has to implement in accord with the provisions contained in the Constitution

(f) Discussing, deciding and recording the reports presented to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw

(g) Submitting proposals, and making discussions and decisions

(h) Asking questions and replying answers

(i) Implementing the matters permitted by the Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

(4) “The Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall convene a special session or an emergency session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw as necessary”

(5) “The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker shall convene a special session or an emergency session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw soonest when the President informs the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker to convene a special session or an emergency session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw”

(6) “The Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall convene a special session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw when at least one fourth of the total number of members of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw ask to convene the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw”

(7) (a) “The first day session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall be valid if more than half the number of members, who have the right to attend the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meeting, are present. The meeting if invalid, shall be adjourned.

(b) “The meetings that are adjourned due to invalidity in accord with the sub para (a) as well as the valid meetings that are extended will be valid if at least one third of the Hluttaw members are present.”

(8) (a) Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, a matter that should be decided through voting, shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting.

(b) The Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw or the Deputy Speaker acting as such, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.

(9) “If for a period of 15 consecutive days a member of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is, without permission of the Speaker absent from all meetings of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Speaker shall inform the Hluttaw concerned to take action against the member according to the prescribed rules. Provided that in computing the said period of 15 days no account shall be taken of any period during which the Chamber is prorogued, or is adjourned.”

(10) “Although there are vacant seats, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall have the right to carry out its tasks. Moreover, the session shall not be annulled, if the acts of some personwho was not entitled to do so sat or vote or took part in the proceedings are discovered later”

(11) “The functions and records of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall be published for public information. But the functions and records restricted by a law or decisions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall not be published.”

(12) (a) The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall have the right to make laws for the whole or any part of the Union concerning the matters stated in the Union Legislative List.

(b) If a bill initiated in the Pyithu Hluttaw or the Amyotha Hluttaw is approved by both Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw, it shall be presumed that the bill is approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

(13) (a) When the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw enacts a law, it may —

(i) entrust the right to issue rules, regulation and bylaws concerning the law to the Union level organizations formed according to the Constitution.

(ii) authorize the respective organizations or authority to issue notifications, orders, directives and procedures.

(b) The rules, regulations, notifications, orders, directives and procedures issued with the right vested by an Act shall be consonant with the stipulations contained in the Constitution and the law concerned.

(c) If both the Pyithu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw decide to annul or amend any one the rules, regulations or bylaws, it shall be presumed that the rules, regulations or bylaws are annulled or amended by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

(d) If there is any disagreement between the Pyithu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw concerning the said rules, regulations or bylaws, it shall be decided by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

(e) If a decision is made to annul or amend any of the rules, regulations or bylaws according to the para (c) or para (d), the decision shall be without prejudice, however, to the validity of any action previously taken under the rules, regulations or bylaws.

(14) “The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw —

(a) shall give the decision on matters in connection with ratifying, cancelling and withdrawing from international agreements, regional treaties or bilateral agreements submitted by the President.

(b) may fix the international, regional or bilateral agreements that do not need Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s approval and delegate the President to ratify, cancel and withdraw from them.

(15) (a) Matters that requires decision of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, agreement and approval should be implemented as follows:

(i) If the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is in session, the matter shall be decided at that session.

(ii) If the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is not in session, the discussion and decisions on the matter shall be made at the nearest Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session.

(iii) A special session or an emergency session shall be convened to discuss and decide the matters which need prompt action for public interest.

(b) When the President after issuing an ordinance having the force of law submits it to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw for approval, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall

(i) pass a resolution to approve it or not.

(ii) fix the further period to which the ordinance shall continue to be in force if the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approves the ordinance.

(iii) The ordinance shall cease to have effect from the date on which it is disapproved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

(16) (a) Of the matters included in the Union legislative list, the Union level organizations formed under the Constitution, shall have the right to submit bills on matters under their management, to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in accord with the prescribed procedures.

(b) Bills on national plans, annual budgets and taxation, which are to be submitted exclusively by the Union government shall be presented to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in accordance with the prescribed provisions for decision.

(17) “Except the bills that are prescribed by the Constitution to be initiated exclusively in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the bills initiated by the Union level organizations formed under the Constitution, in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall be discussed initially at the Pyithu Hluttaw or the Amyotha Hluttaw according to the prescribed provisions.”

(18) “If a need arises to scrutinize the bills, that are to be discussed and approved exclusively at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, they are to be scrutinized jointly by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw bill committee and the Amyotha Hluttaw bill committee, and the bills together with the findings and comments of the joint committee can be submitted to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in accordance with prescribed provisions.”

(19) “If there arises disagreement between the Pyithu Hluttaw and the Amyotha Hluttaw concerning a bill, the bill shall be discussed and approved in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.”

(20) “(a) Within 14 days after the date the President receives the bills sent to him by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw after approving them and the bills in like manner as if the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw have approved them, he shall sign the bills and shall promulgate them into law.”

“(b) The President shall send a bill back to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw together with his comments within the fixed time to sign and promulgate it into an Act.

“(c) Although the President does not send a bill back to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw together with his comments within the fixed time, if the Bill is not signed by the President within 14 days after the date of presentation, the same shall be become an Act in like manner as if he had signed it on the last of the said 14 days.”

(21) (a) If the President sends back the bill to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw together with his comments within the fixed time, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw after studying the President’s comments, can accept his comments or can decide to amend the bill, or shall make a decision to approve the bill in its original state if it does not agree the President’s comments.

(b) The President shall sign the bill and enact it into an Act on the last of the said seven days if the bill so amended according to his comments or his comments are not accepted and the bill approved in its original state is sent back to him with the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s decision.

(c) If the bill sent back to the President by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is not signed by the President within the fixed time, the same shall be become an Act in like manner as if he had signed it on the last date of the said time limit.

(22) “The Acts signed by the President and the Acts deemed to have been signed by the President shall be promulgated in the gazette. The Act shall come into force on the date of such promulgation unless the contrary intention is expressed.”

(23) “Members of the organizations representing the Union level organizations formed under the Constitution while attending the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw with the permission of the Speaker have right to explain the bills and other matters in connection with their respective organizations.”

(24) The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker shall —

(a) supervise the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw sessions

(b) invite the President, if the President informs him of his desire to address the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw

(c) have the power to invite organization and persons representing any Union level organizations formed under the Constitution to attend and give clarifications on one of the matters of the ongoing discussions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session if necessary

(d) implement his other duties and functions designated by the constitution or any law

(25) “The Union level organizations formed under the Constitution shall submit their general condition, necessary to be presented to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, with the permission of the Speaker.”

(26) “(a) Subject to the provisions contained in the constitution, and the provisions stipulated in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw law, members of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall have freedom of speech and voting at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Joint Committee. Concerning the discussions and functions of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the Joint Committee, a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw member shall be absolutely privileged, except under the laws of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

“(b) Subject to the provisions contained in the constitution, and the provisions stipulated in the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw law, members of organizations or persons representing any one of the Union level organizations invited to attend the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw have the freedom of speech. No action shall be taken against such persons for their speeches, except under the law of s of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

“(c) However, if the persons mentioned in the above para (a) and para (b) commit physical assaults, they shall be liable to punishment according to the existing law.”

(27) “If there arises a need to arrest a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw member attending a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session or a person attending the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw session at the invitation of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker, the reliable evidence shall be submitted to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker. He shall not be arrested without the prior permission of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker.”

(28) “The reports, documents and Hluttaw records published by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw or under its authority shall be privileged.”

should be adopted into detailed basic principles.

NC Delegates visit Mingaladon Garden City, Yangon Industrial Zone

YANGON, 8 Jan — Delegates to the National Convention yesterday morning visited Mingala-don Garden City, Yangon Industrial Zone and Pyay Garden Condominium here.

First, they went to Mingaladon Gardent City in Mingaladon and visited pagodas constructed in the city.

Afterwards, the delegates went Yangon Industrial Zone and visited A-1 Garment Factory which has over 1,300 employees and produces export quality garments. They also visited Myanmar Royal Tea Factory in the zone.

When they arrived at Pyay Garden Condominium constructed by Zekaba Co Ltd in Kamayut Township, Chairman of Zekaba Co Ltd Dr Khin Shwe and officials welcomed them and conducted them around the construction site of the condominium.

The delegates who are Christian this morning went to Kayin Baptist Christian Dhamma University and Immanuel Church in Kyauktada Township this evening.

Source: http://mission.itu.ch/MISSIONS/Myanmar/n-convention/NC_2006Jan8.htm