Petition to amend charter gets off to quick start

The campaign was launched by the NLD and the Generation 88 Peace and Society Group, which comprises the student activists who led protests against the military junta in 1988. The petition targets Section 436 of the charter. This Section requires the support of 75 per cent of all MPs in order for Parliament to amend a charter that gives the military the power to appoint 25 per cent of Parliament’s MPs. 

Tun Tun Hein, a member of the NLD committee, told Eleven Media yesterday – one month after the campaign was launched – that the 1.5 million signatures were gathered in just three regions: Yangon, Mandalay and Ayeyawady.

He expressed surprise over the number gathered so quickly and said the committee could not estimate how many signatures it would gain as the campaign expands nationwide. 

The signatures are restricted to those who have national registration cards and are at least 18 years of age. Each person who signs also provides his or her national ID number and address. All signatures are given freely, Tun Tun Hein said.

“Civil servants, including members of the military, can sign in the petition,” Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said. She also warned that legal action would be taken against anyone who uses threats or intimidation to prevent people from signing it. 

A rally for amending the Constitution will be held in Sittwe, the capital of troubled Rakhine State, on June 28, but the NLD said it was not sure whether Suu Kyi would attend it. The Rakhine National Party, which was formed by merger of two Rakhine State parties, is the dominant party in that state, where political observers say the NLD has little support.

Other rallies will be held in Bago Region on June 26, in Minbu Township of Magway Region on June 30, and in Taunggyi, Kengtung and Techilek townships of Shan State on July 3, 5 and 6 respectively, Tun Tun Hein said.