AFP

NAYPYIDAW MYANMAR’S opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi shunned the opening of parliament on Monday while the nation’s president vowed “no U-turn” on reforms as the EU suspended wideranging sanctions.

Suu Kyi’s party has refused to swear to “safeguard” an army-created constitution in the first sign of tension with the government since a landmark byelection this month saw the democracy icon win a parliamentary seat.

The spat comes as European Union nations put a halt to most sanctions against the impoverished nation for one year to reward a series of dramatic reforms since direct army rule ended last year.

A statement adopted by foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc hailed “the historic changes in Myanmar/Burma over the past year”, as they agreed a suspension of measures against almost 500 individuals and more than 800 firms in a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.

Myanmar, long-isolated under military dictatorship, has seen a rapid improvement in relations with the international community after the Nobel Peace Prize winner and her party achieved a decisive win in the April 1 polls.

Suu Kyi has shown increased confidence in the reformist government of President Thein Sein in recent weeks, calling for the EU sanctions suspension and planning her first international trip in 24 years.

“If the reforms are continued, I think all the sanctions will disappear,” said Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD).

“I am not an expert in economics, so I cannot say precisely how it will effect Myanmar, but I think it is important for the economy of our country.” Thein Sein, who is currently on a visit to Japan, on Monday vowed that he would not backtrack on the country’s democratisation.

“There won’t be any U-turn,” he said, according to the Mainichi Shimbun.

The president, a former general, told reporters that it was up to Suu Kyi whether or not she took her seat in parliament. The NLD — the main opposition force after securing 43 of the 44 seats it contested in the by-elections — has appealed to the president directly over the stalemate, asking that the wording of the oath be changed from “safeguard” to “respect” the constitution.

The party, which boycotted a controversial 2010 election, agreed to rejoin the political mainstream last year after authorities changed a similar phrase in party registration laws.