Myanmar Prez to amend Constitution
Naypyidaw, Myanmar, March 30: Myanmar’s new President promised to amend the country’s Army- written Constitution in an inaugural speech Friday, challenging a charter that bans Aung San Suu Kyi from top office and gives the military major powers.
Win Myint, a 66- year- old former political prisoner and staunch ally of Suu Kyi, was elected president on Wednesday after his predecessor suddenly resigned. In his first address to parliament, the famously straight- talking Win Myint said he would focus on the rule of law, national reconciliation and “amending the constitution to build a democratic federal union”.
The three issues are touchstones of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy ( NLD) party.
But talk of amendments to Myanmar’s 2008 constitution is likely to rise heckles among Myanmar’s still- powerful generals. The army has ceded some power to the civilian administration, but retains 25 per cent of parliamentary seats and total control of security affairs under the charter.