Campaign planned to seek signatures
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The National League for Democracy (NLD) will lead a nationwide signature campaign to amend Section 436 of the 2008 Constitution, as the latest movement pressing for the amendments.
In order to amend this provision, which is part of the charter’s Chapter 12, more than 75 per cent of MPs in Union Parliament need to vote for approval.
“The signature campaign will start this month. And our leader will make speeches in Yangon on May 17 and in Mandalay on May 18. Up to July 19, signatures can be made in our NLD offices of villages, townships, districts and regions,” Nan Khin Htwe Myint, NLD’s central executive committee member, told The Daily Eleven on May 2.
“The NLD’s CEC members and Mandalay Region NLD’s CEC members met in Mandalay Region regarding the signature campaign to be held in Mandalay on May 18,” said Tin Ko Ko, secretary of Mandalay NLD.
The NLD and 88’s Generation Peace and Open Society will jointly campaign to amend Section 436 in Yangon and Mandalay during May.
After the signatures solicited in Yangon and Mandalay Regions, further campaigning will be launched in remaining parts of Myanmar from May 29 to July 19.
“The NLD will arrange for the people to sign in the books at the respective NLD offices at the level of villages, townships, districts and regions for the purpose of amending Section 436,” said Tin Ko Ko.
“The NLD will directly distribute the books on Section 436 amendment. The complied signatures will be sent to the parliaments and the Union Election Commission as well as the concerned organisations. The 88’s Generation Peace and Open Society will also join us. We will convince all organisations to take part in the campaign,” said Tin Ko Ko.
“If necessary, the charter will be changed due to the strong wishes of the people,” said Nan Khin Htwe Myint.
It was reported earlier that a new federal constitution will be drafted by the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), a coalition of ethnic parties that took part and were subsequently outlawed for running in the 1990 election.
The UNA along with the United Nationalities Federation Council (UNFC) - a collection of ethnic armed groups holding ceasefire talks with the government - desire to bring about a federal state with more regional autonomy for ethnic areas.
“We will draft a new constitution in conformity with the SLORC’s announcement if the amendment to the 2008 Constitution does not reach a satisfactory level,” said David Hla Myint, general-secretary of the UNA.
According to a decree (notification No.1/90) by the former military junta - the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) - candidates who won in the 1990 election are responsible for drawing up a new constitution.
The UNA maintains that they will plan to draft a new constitution after calling a conference comprising of all national races and the armed groups, as the 1/90 announcement remains in effect.
The SLORC called a national convention to draft a constitution in January, 1993. Drawing up of the 2008 Constitution took a decade.
“The majority of people boycotted the 2008 Constitution, and the country sees frequent protests against it. The government itself has said the constitution needs amending,” said David Hla Myint.
“We will officially coordinate with the ruling party only after drafting up the new one. I believe the majority of people will accept it,” he added.
