Rallies seek to pave way for Suu Kyi's presidency

Political rallies calling for amendments to the 2008 Constitution have spread to major cities, including Yangon and Mandalay.

The charter rewrite, if it takes place, will effectively remove the obstacles and pave way for National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San SuuKyi to run for president in the next general election.

Section 436 poses a major obstacle for charter change and Section 59 prohibits Myanmar citizens like Suu Kyi with foreign spouses or children from claiming the presidency.

The NLD and the 88 Generation co-organised rallies on Saturday and Sunday, which included public lectures designed to raise awareness on the necessity to amend the charter.

Thousands of people joined Saturday’s rally in Myanmar’s main city to call for changes to the military-drafted constitution.

Former political prisoner-turned-politician Suu Kyi has been campaigning to amend the charter since she became a lawmaker two years ago. Besides blocking anyone whose spouse or children are overseas citizens from leading the country, the 2008 charter also ring-fences a quarter of the seats in parliament for unelected military personnel, leaving the army with a significant political role despite the end of outright junta rule. 

Parliamentary elections due to be held in 2015 are seen as a definitive test of whether the military is willing to loosen its grip on power.

The country’s president is selected by the legislature, and Suu Kyi has declared her ambition to lead the country.

Any change to the charter needs the support of over 75 per cent of the legislature, so at least some soldiers would have to vote for the reforms. 

Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest during military rule in Myanmar, before she was freed after controversial elections in 2010 that her party boycotted. 

Since then President Thein Sein has pushed through sweeping changes, including releasing other political prisoners and welcoming Suu Kyi and her party into parliament following landmark by-elections in 2012.

The petition to amend Section 436 will be circulated for public debate from May 27 to July 19. Sponsors of the petition are the NLD, the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, student unions, labour unions and other political organisations.

In their joint statement, the NLD and 88 GPOS aired their views that Section 436 had been designed to block instead of allow charter amendments.

The NLD is trying to amend the Constitution through Parliament. Outside the legislature, Suu Kyi has been giving public talks to raise awareness on relevant issues.