MPs block amendments to 1982 Citizenship Law

Published on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 19:32

The Myanmar parliament will not tackle changes to the 1982 Burma (Myanmar) Citizenship Law after several MPs objected to the amendments.

Tin Mya of the Union Solidarity and Development Party submitted amendments to the body but Speaker Khin Aung Myint said the proposal will be kept only as a record after some MPs raised their objection.

The Burma Citizenship Law, enacted in 1982 , categorises “citizen”, “associate citizen”, “naturalised citizen” and “foreigner”.

The 20-year-old law also provides guidelines on those who can apply for naturalised citizenship including those with a foreign parent as long as the other parent is a citizen.

Others who are qualified to seek naturalised citizenship are those with parents who are an associate citizen and a naturalised citizen; an associate citizen and a foreigner; both naturalised citizens; and a naturalised citizen and a foreigner.

“The law can protect nationals from the influence of illegal foreign migrants into the country. This law is essential for both Rakhine State and all nationals. If this law was updated, there would be some international pressures in the enactment process. If the new citizenship law was not firm, the people in Rakhine State will suffer,” warned MP Kyaw Kyaw, who was one of those who objected.

MP Kyaw Oo of the Rakhine Nationals Development Party said the law was enacted to address Myanmar’s situation being “bordered with a country where population is bursting”. He said the law should only be amended once Myanmar enjoys peace and stability.

On the other hand, some MPs from ethnic political parties, said amendments to the law may be enough.