YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar President Thein Sein has rejected six-party talks on constitutional amendments, arguing that such discussions should include a wider range of participants. But opponents accuse him of intentionally muddying the waters with his call for nearly 50 stakeholders to take part.
"[Myanmar's] Union Parliament is the most constitutionally responsible institution to amend the state constitution," the president said in a letter to parliament on Jan. 12, the opening day of its 12th session in Naypyitaw. "We have to take into consideration the decision made by Yangon Region Parliament for holding 12-party talks." The president's suggestion that a more inclusive framework be discussed puts the ball in parliament's court.
