The opposition leader had proposed that she represent the National League for Democracy at the meeting and that it also be attended by President U Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, Thura U Shwe Mann.

U Ye Htut said it would not be appropriate to hold such a meeting when the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s constitution review joint committee was seeking public submissions on proposals to amend the constitution.

The submissions will form the basis of a report which the committee will submit to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw by January 31 next year.

“Discrepancies could occur if a such a meeting were to be held before the constitution review joint committee makes its report,” U Ye Htut, who is also Deputy Minister for Information, told Mizzima in a telephone interview on November 27.

The meeting could be held after the committee presented its report, he said.

U Ye Htut said President U Thein Sein and Senior General Min AungHlaing had to take into account the 58 other official political parties when considering Daw Aung San SuuKyi’s proposal.

“I believe that every stakeholder should be involved in any discussion on this issue,” he said, adding that both the President and the Commander-in-Chief recognized that the matter was important for all citizens.

Daw Aung San Su Kyi announced her proposal onNovember 23 and a letter requesting the meeting was sent two days later.

She said amendments to the constitution were necessary to improve the political situation in Myanmar.

The composition of the constitution review joint committee is based on its members’ representation in parliament.

It has 52 MPs from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, 25 from the military bloc and seven from the National League for Democracy.