More rallies in Yangon seeking charter amendment

 

There are three in this week alone. On Monday, more than 1,000 people from Insein and Mayangon townships staged protests separately. On Tuesday, around 500 protesters from Magway, Thityarkaute, Pwint Phyu, Taungdwingyi and Yenangyaung took to the streets.

In another development, a group of winning candidates from the 1990 elections also vowed to support the movement. The Winning Candidates Group is chaired by Khun Htun Oo, chairperson of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD). It comprised of 25 executive members and has 14 committees (including for Lower House and Legal Affairs) under which the MPs will perform their respective duties. It is also known that the group will carry out environmental conservation tasks. 

David Hla Myint, the group’s secretary, said that an all-inclusive conference on amendments would be hosted.

“We find it very difficult to see amendments to it happening inside parliament. That’s why we will try to call a union conference outside the parliament. It is assumed that the constitution may be right in place only after the union conference is called,” he said. 

“Collective efforts will be made for the inclusiveness of all stakeholders such as national races, civil society organizations (CSOs) and political activists.”

“Making changes to the 2008 Constitution is of great importance,” said Thein Htun, the elected 1990 candidate from Thegon constituency, adding: “Till now, this move is up in the air. The elected candidates from the 1990 elections still have a duty to amend it. Each candidate should continue extending a helping hand to the National League for Democracy (NLD).”

On Monday, more than 500 people participated in the Insein Township protest, marching from Aung Zeya suspension bridge to Singu Ward Government Technological School. Another 500 protestors in Mayangon Township marched from the overpass above Thamine Railway Station to a playing field near Kyaikwine Pagoda.

The demonstrators shouted slogans and held placards with the same messages: “We want a government elected by the people,” “We want genuine democracy,” and “We don’t want Section 436, Section 59 (d) and Section 59 (f).”

“The constitution is the real foundation as well as the procedure of a country. The 2008 Constitution is the one that we, the entire people, don’t want. We want parliament to take the public’s demand seriously,” said Thant Zin Oo, a protester from Insein Township. 

Another protester from Mayangon Township condemned the constitution as a document “drafted by the military government to oppress the people. All of our people want genuine democracy. This is why we are protesting.”

The protesters’ demand focuses on Section 59 which bars Aung San Suu Kyi from running for public office, as well as Section 436 that constricts amending the military-drafted charter. 

In Magway, the protesters wore T-shirts and held placards expressing their desire to exclude the sections. 

 “The authorities haven’t allowed the protests in Magway. If the authorities prevented the protests, the protests will be changed to other ways. The authorities need to give the rights in accord with law to reduce the tension and conflicts,” said Pyone Cho, from the 88 Generation Open Society.

Nine members from the 88 Generation Open Society including Pyone Cho and Mee Mee joined the protest.

A pro-democracy activist Kyaw Kyaw Than from Magway asked prior permission to hold the protest, but his request was rejected and he has agreed to voluntarily give himself up to the police.

“Yesterday, A Magway district police major asked me if I will come to police station as soon as the protest is over. I told him that I will go myself, and bring along my soap and toothbrush. He told me to bring two people for the bill,” Kyaw Kyaw Than said.

The organisers will face charges under Section 18, which stipulates that protesters must get prior permission from local authorities to stage a demonstration. 

More than 3,000 protesters held their first protest to amend 2008 constitution in Paungde yesterday morning.

The protest began in front of the National League for Democracy’s office holding up posters and placards.