Charter change a test for democracy: Suu Kyi

In her address to parliament on Friday, she said the nationwide signature campaign would show the public aspirations to changes. 

 “Myanmar says democratic reforms are taking place in the country. Therefore, Myanmar is enjoying the support of foreign countries. We will have to monitor whether the government will heed the aspirations of the people. A group of (powerful) individuals advised on what should be suitable for the country. Their view is not democratic and does not represent the people. Only a government has the power to make decision. Only a group or an organisation is responsible for the decision making. This practice is undemocratic. It goes against the democratic norms. To be clear, their acts are veering off the road to democracy,” she added.

She went on to say that the push for the Myanmar Army to accept charter change should not be assumed as a threat. The move is deemed necessary because only the military commander-in-chief can decide whether to revise the charter. 

“The country is still under the climate of fear. The charter change will come into effect by pushing the military. Pressuring other organisation is futile. I am telling the truth. We must act in concerted efforts. To enjoy equal rights, the military must give up the privileges,” she said.

She urged the military to show its maturity by conceding to being equal to other institutions instead of holding on to being above the parliament. She said she deemed it undemocratic for requiring the military consent on amending the charter, which should be entirely the legislative affairs.

The 2008 Constitution is seen as the obstacle to achieve sustainable peace in a fractious society like Myanmar, she said. 

The signature campaign was kicked off on May 27. 

Nyan Win, NLD’s central executive member, said the party offices across the country would return the booklets containing signatures calling for charter amendment to NLD headquarters after the campaign ended on July 19. 

“Within one week after July 19, the process of collecting signatures must be complete. We have given an instruction that the cover of every book is to mention the names of township and village and the number of people who gave their signatures. We will be able to announce the number around two weeks after July 19. We will reveal what the public wishes are,” said Nyan Win. 

The NLD and 88 Generation are giving public speeches seeking to amend the constitution across the country. The campaign rallies will cover 17 townships of the 14 states and regions. 

“We are giving public speeches to explain why the people should sign in support the amendment,” said Tun Tun Hein from NLD’s committee for constitutional amendments. 

Suu Kyi was a prominent speaker and her speeches have drawn a warning from the Union Election Commission (UEC). 

Some political analysts and law experts said that it is up to the Constitutional Tribunal, not the commission, to intervene if Suu Kyi’s comments are deemed to have violated the constitution. They voiced suspicion that the commission had intervened in order to shield the military. The NLD itself is reportedly planning to protest the UEC warning.

UEC’s director Thaung Hlaing rebutted that Suu Kyi, as a political party leader, had given her signed pledge with the commission, vowing to respect a constitutional clause banning any words that can harm the dignity of individuals or organisations. She was given a warning because her comments could be construed as insulting the military MPs, he said. 

“She’s the leader as well as a member of a political party. And for parties, we have the commission’s mandate to supervise them. It’s in Section 10(l). We have to allow party registration. Then we have to supervise them. And the supervision is prescribed in the party registration law,” said Thaung Hlaing. 

He insisted that the rule would be applied to all parties, not just one individual. Suu Kyi is not

barred from giving speeches, but exercising the constitutional rights must not harm others.