Burma's parliament reopened Monday with newly elected democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and 42 others in her National League for Democracy party refusing to take their seats in a dispute over the oath of office. Also Monday, the European Union suspended long-standing trade and economic sanctions against Burma for one year in response to political reforms in the Southeast Asian nation. NLD party officials say their contingent will not take their seats in parliament until the oath is changed so that they need not swear to protect a constitution written by the former military junta.
Party spokesman Nyan Win told reporters Monday he believes the issue will be resolved quickly. The NLD wants the oath changed so its parliamentarians are required to "respect" the constitution rather than "safeguard" it. But the ruling party has so far refused. President Thein Sein, visiting Tokyo, told reporters Monday he has no plans to change the wording of the oath, but insisted he will never reverse the ongoing democratization process.