Suu Kyi's party 'boycotts' Burma's parliament over oath

Burma's parliament opens today as newly elected opposition MPs in Myanmar refuse to attend opening session demanding rewording of parliamentary oath.

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's pro-democracy leader, and newly elected MPs from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have refused to attend the opening session of parliament over a dispute regarding the wording of the parliamentary oath.

Suu Kyi and other members of her party refused to travel to the capital Naypyidaw to enter parliament on Monday.

The NLD wants the phrasing in the politicians' oath changed from "safeguard the constitution" to "respect the constitution".

The NLD want to swear to "respect", rather than "safeguard" the constitution, which they say is undemocratic.

The NLD has petitioned the constitutional court to change the oath and Suu Kyi has written to Thein Sein, Myanmar's president, asking him to reword the vow of allegiance.

Suu Kyi, who spent much of the past two decades locked up by the country's military leaders, campaigned in by-elections on a pledge to amend the country's constitution, which was drawn up the country's former government.

Her party won 43 out of 45 seats in the historic by-elections that gave the Nobel Laureate her first-ever seat in parliament.

Sein said on Monday duirng a five-day visit to Japan that he had no plans to change the oath. 

The president told reporters in Tokyo he would like to "welcome" Suu Kyi to parliament, but that it was up to her whether or not she took up the seat.

Analysts say the Myanmar president needs the opposition in the parliament, dominated by the military-backed party, to get international legitimacy. The constitution was drawn up by Burma's former military junta. It reserves 25% of all seats in parliament for the military.

Myanmar's military rulers ceded power to a quasi-civilian government following a November 2010 election marred by opposition complaints of rigging, and won by a party set up by the military.

The new government headed by Sein has released hundreds of political prisoners and introduced a wave off reforms including loosening media controls, allowing trade unions and protests, talks with ethnic minority rebels and sweeping economic changes.

The row comes as European Union diplomats meet to decide whether to suspend sanctions against Burma.

The dispute has come to a head with foreign ministers of EU nations due to meet in Luxemburg.

According to diplomatic sources, an announcement on the suspension of sanctions - with the exception of the arms embargo - is expected.

The US and Australia have already eased some sanctions on Burma.