Ceasefire team supports bid to amend Constitution
Ceasefire team supports bid to amend Constitution
Eleven Media, 04 Jun 2014
URL: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6344:ceasefire-team-supports-bid-to-amend-constitution&catid=32:politics&Ite
The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team supports the campaign to amend Section 436 of the 2008 Constitution, saying this will help pave the way for national reconciliation.
“We must amend the 2008 constitution if we want a majority of the people to support our nation,” said NCCT leader and vice-chair of the New Mon State Party Naing Han Tha.
He told Eleven Media yesterday that the team is ready to sign the petition calling for the section to be amended, but it was not in a position to join the campaign at present. Naing Han Tha said he would also encourage those around him to push for the reform.
Section 436 of the military drafted Constitution makes it nearly impossible to amend it, as it requires 75 percent of all members of parliament to support any amendment. The Constitution also gives the military 25 per cent of all seats in the parliament.
NCCT leaders Naing Han Tha and colonel Khun Oakka met Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), in Yangon on May 23 and discussed charter reform.
“All agreed that the 2008 Constitution should be amended. Aung San Suu Kyi will try to have it amended in parliament because she is an MP. As we are not from parliament, we will only have a chance to talk about this during political dialogue after a ceasefire deal. As we all seek common ground on charter change, we will push for it,” Naing Han Tha said after the meeting with the NLD leader.
The NCCT is drafting a nationwide ceasefire in coordination with the Union government’s Peacemaking Committee in order to attain a ceasefire between te government and all armed ethnic groups.
A nationwide petition campaign for amending Section 436, organized by the opposition National League for Democracy and 88 Generation Open Society, was launched on May 27 and has generated rising interest.
“We must amend the 2008 constitution if we want a majority of the people to support our nation,” said NCCT leader and vice-chair of the New Mon State Party Naing Han Tha.
He told Eleven Media yesterday that the team is ready to sign the petition calling for the section to be amended, but it was not in a position to join the campaign at present. Naing Han Tha said he would also encourage those around him to push for the reform.
Section 436 of the military drafted Constitution makes it nearly impossible to amend it, as it requires 75 percent of all members of parliament to support any amendment. The Constitution also gives the military 25 per cent of all seats in the parliament.
NCCT leaders Naing Han Tha and colonel Khun Oakka met Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), in Yangon on May 23 and discussed charter reform.
“All agreed that the 2008 Constitution should be amended. Aung San Suu Kyi will try to have it amended in parliament because she is an MP. As we are not from parliament, we will only have a chance to talk about this during political dialogue after a ceasefire deal. As we all seek common ground on charter change, we will push for it,” Naing Han Tha said after the meeting with the NLD leader.
The NCCT is drafting a nationwide ceasefire in coordination with the Union government’s Peacemaking Committee in order to attain a ceasefire between te government and all armed ethnic groups.
A nationwide petition campaign for amending Section 436, organized by the opposition National League for Democracy and 88 Generation Open Society, was launched on May 27 and has generated rising interest.