Suu Kyi calls signature campaign a breakthrough for democracy
Suu Kyi calls signature campaign a breakthrough for democracy
Eleven Media, 06 Aug 2014
URL: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7116:suu-kyi-calls-signature-campaign-a-breakthrough-for-democracy&catid=32:
More than 5 million people have signed a petition to amend the Constitution, in what National League for Democracy chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi hailed as a breakthrough for democracy in Myanmar.
She was speaking at press conference yesterday organised by the NLD and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, which jointly launched the signature drive to drum up support for the amending Section 436 of the military drafted charter.
That section requires that more than 75 per cent of all MPs must approve an amendment to the 2008 Constitution, which also bars Myanmar’s democracy icon from the presidency because her sons hold British passports.
As of August 3, at least 4.9 million signatures from 301 townships had been counted. Previously, the NLD said the final tally would be announced on August 5. That tally has yet to be released, but the NLD and Generation 88 said they will hold a joint press conference on the campaign on August 6.
“The campaign for constitutional amendment was the first of its kind in Myanmar’s history,” Su Kyi told reporters at Parliament on August 1. She said that the fact that there was no secrecy in the campaign and that it was conducted with transparency signaled a shift in Myanmar towards a more daring electorate.
“This signature campaign was not a secret vote,” she said of the campaign that included massive public rallies nationwide as well as village-level discussions on charter amendments, which were led by NLD and Generation 88 members.
Those who signed the petition are courageous, she said, adding that they had “dared” to publicly oppose a charter drafted by the military. Even some members of the NLD had feared signing the petition, she said.
She said that some people took it upon themselves to search for places where they could sign the petition.
“I have never seen such an event in Myanmar,” she told reporters, reiterating that people took it upon themselves to publicly express their desire to change a document drafted by the previous junta.
The signature campaign was held from May 27 to July 19. The final list of signatures will be submitted to Parliament and announced to the public.
She was speaking at press conference yesterday organised by the NLD and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, which jointly launched the signature drive to drum up support for the amending Section 436 of the military drafted charter.
That section requires that more than 75 per cent of all MPs must approve an amendment to the 2008 Constitution, which also bars Myanmar’s democracy icon from the presidency because her sons hold British passports.
As of August 3, at least 4.9 million signatures from 301 townships had been counted. Previously, the NLD said the final tally would be announced on August 5. That tally has yet to be released, but the NLD and Generation 88 said they will hold a joint press conference on the campaign on August 6.
“The campaign for constitutional amendment was the first of its kind in Myanmar’s history,” Su Kyi told reporters at Parliament on August 1. She said that the fact that there was no secrecy in the campaign and that it was conducted with transparency signaled a shift in Myanmar towards a more daring electorate.
“This signature campaign was not a secret vote,” she said of the campaign that included massive public rallies nationwide as well as village-level discussions on charter amendments, which were led by NLD and Generation 88 members.
Those who signed the petition are courageous, she said, adding that they had “dared” to publicly oppose a charter drafted by the military. Even some members of the NLD had feared signing the petition, she said.
She said that some people took it upon themselves to search for places where they could sign the petition.
“I have never seen such an event in Myanmar,” she told reporters, reiterating that people took it upon themselves to publicly express their desire to change a document drafted by the previous junta.
The signature campaign was held from May 27 to July 19. The final list of signatures will be submitted to Parliament and announced to the public.