5 million sign to lift Myanmar military veto on constitution
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A petition calling for the removal of an effective military veto over constitutional amendments in Myanmar has been submitted to parliament, the opposition said yesterday.
“Five million signatures were sent to parliament Wednesday,” Nyan Win, spokesman for the opposition National League for Democracy, said in a statement.
The signature campaign, which was organised by opposition leader Aung San SuuKyi’s NLD party and the Peace and Open Society, calls for changes to Article 436.
Article 436 grants an effective veto to the military.
The Peace and Open Society is headed by student leaders of the 1988 uprising,
Amendments can only occur with the support of more than 75 per cent of lawmakers.
The constitution written in 2008 under the former military junta allocates 25 per cent of the seats for military members, who are appointed without election.
“Without removing the military veto, any important charter change that they don’t want could not be achieved,” student leader Ko Ko Gyi said.
As the petition has no legal effect on parliament, lawmakers could ignore the effort, Ko Ko Gyi said.
“But I believe parliament will pay attention to the petition," hes aid.
Shwe Man, chairman of ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party and
the Speaker of parliament, said the petition would have some effect although he had dismissed the initiative two months ago.
The NLD is also calling for amendments to an article that effectively bars Suu Kyi from becoming president because her two sons are not citizens of Myanmar.
Myanmar had made dramatic political changes since a quasi-civilian government led by President Thein Sein, who is a former junta senior leader, took power in 2011.
