In a letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, De Venecia suggested that the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting this week in Cebu "consider our proposal of having Than Shwe—the military junta leader—as president and head of state, and Aung San Suu Kyi as prime minister and head of government, or vice versa, in the unity government."
The Speaker said, "the incumbent Prime Minister, Gen. Soe Win, with whom I had talks in Manila a few weeks ago, could become leader of the new parliament under the new Myanmar constitution, which is being finalized by the Myanmar national convention."
De Venecia said his legislative-executive proposal might lead to Suu Kyi’s release from house arrest, which has been the focal point of protests against Myanmar’s assumption of the ASEAN leadership.
"Further to our discussions, I am honored to present a legislative-executive proposal to help bring about a negotiated political settlement in Myanmar that should lead to the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the establishment of a unity government in Yangon," the House leader said.
He explained that the proposal is a "multi-layered approach to the Myanmar conflict" which has threatened to prevent the country from assuming the chairmanship of the ASEAN next year.
A number of European countries and political leaders in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia have aired misgivings over the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN with Myanmar getting a crack at the post next year.
Among Filipino lawmakers demanding freedom for Suu Kyi are Sen. Aquilino Pimentel and Reps. Lorenzo Tanada III, Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Loretta Ann Rosales. They aired their demand during the recent ASEAN Parliamentary Caucus.
"First, this proposal provides an exit strategy to the ruling military junta and the opposition—and thus breaks the long-running political stalemate there," de Venecia told Romulo.
He added: "Second, it does not merely seek the release from house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi; it goes beyond it—by addressing the fundamental political question of what happens next in Myanmar after her release. Our proposal is for both sides to create a unity government, under a power-sharing formula, that would hasten the process of putting Myanmar firmly on the path to democracy."
De Venecia explained that the Myanmar Cabinet "must reflect the power-sharing arrangement in the unity government—and consider inviting the participation of insurgent forces."
"With the Myanmar situation stabilized, new national elections in Myanmar could then be called in three to five years from the time of launching of the unity government," de Venecia said. "The unity coalition could run as one—or go separate ways with each party fielding its own candidates."
De Venecia said Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, will explain to Romulo the Lower House position on the issue.
"It is our hope that this proposal will be suggested by the ASEAN to heal the division within its ranks, and by the United States, European Union, the international community and Myanmar’s own society under a vision of an all-inclusive multi-party democracy," De Venecia said.
According to De Venecia the majority coalition in the Lower House "overwhelmingly supports" the proposal as a joint legislative-executive initiative." (Ben Rosario)
