The secretary of the Lower House Rule of Law Committee, Win Myint, told Mizzima on 20 November that the Committee will begin observing and inspecting the offices and operations of Myanmar’s police chiefs, general administration departments, and township police stationson the orders of President U Thein Sein.
As per the president’s instructions, the Committee visited Tachileik, Shan State, on 25 September to studyits governmental departments, administrative outlets, and police procedures.
The Committee will make additional trips to other regions and states, Win Myint said, but it will not disclose where exactly it will head next to prevent departments from “window-dressing” prior to a visit.
After inspecting several courtrooms across the country, the Committee discovered that the confessions of several alleged criminals had been extracted though torture and coercion. It will visit associated township police stations to further investigations into these matters.
Win Myint also reported that the Committee has uncovered several instances of dereliction of duty and faults in administrative machinery.
“We have found several weaknesses in rule of law in administrative procedures, including drug trafficking and and border disputes,” he said.
Regardless of these significant findings, U Kyi Myint, the lawyer for the leader of the Karen National Union, feels that Committee inspections will not produce any significant results.
“It’s good to see what the president is doing for rule of law in the country, but the Rule of Law Committee is just a messenger,” he said. “All they will do is visit, study, and submit a report. No tangible changes will be made.”
The Rule of Law Committee, which was constituted on 7 August 2012, has fifteen members and is chaired by Aung San Suu Kyi.
The mission of the Committee is to remind, urge, and assist the government, judicial outfits, and public servants to behave in accordance with the law.
