Every citizen has the right to be president, UNFC says

Myanmar can only be called a real democracy when every citizen has the right to be president, according to the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).

UNFC General-Secretary Naing Han Thar made the comment after meeting with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon. 

“Every citizen has the right to be the president. That is real democracy. We are real citizens. It’s not right if we don’thave that right. We need to amend this,” said Naing Han Thar, responding to questions from reporters. 

Article 59 (f) in the 2008 Constitution forbids any citizen married to a foreigner or bearing children of different nationalities from running for office. This includes Aung San Suu Kyi who was once married to a British citizen.

The UNFC’s leaders met with Suu Kyi on Monday at her house and answered questions raised by local reporters after the meeting.

He added that they discussed national affairs such as bringing about a democratic union along with national peace, and the importance of amending the current constitution.

Both sides said they have no disagreement about amending the 2008 Constitution or making a new one.

“We have no disagreement about the issue. Everyone wants a real democratic union. In order to be so, the constitution needs amending. We all agreed on that,” said Suu Kyi.

The UNFC also said it wants to see Suu Kyi as a participant or witness in the national peace processes. 

 

3,000 on blacklist

Myanmar has only 3,000 people on its blacklist and all of them are also listed by Interpol and other international law enforcement organisations.

Minister for the President’s Office Aung Min disclosed this at a formal meeting with leaders from the UNFC on Sunday in Yangon.

“The blacklist had 18,000 people formerly. I alone removed more than 12,000 from the list. When it was submitted to the president there were 6,000 remaining and he removed 3,000 more from it. The list has only 3,000 currently,” said Aung Min. “We can’t remove them as they’re blacklisted by Interpol and international organisations,” the minister added.

The UNFC is a coalition of ethnic armed groups founded in February 2011 and many of its leaders were once blacklisted by the former junta. Aung Min insisted at the meeting that UNFC’s leaders can enter Myanmar at any time as the country has changed.

During the former military government, the country blacklisted many people including its nationals  as well as foreign citizens including journalists. The current government has relaxed its restrictions as a result of political reforms.