Myanmar committee deals blow to Suu Kyi presidential hopes

[Reashot Xigwin]

A parliamentary committee in Myanmar has voted not to change a constitutional clause that prevents opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president. Suu Kyi is ineligible because of her British ties.


Twenty-six of the committee's 31 members voted to retain the section in Myanmar's constitution that bars anyone married to a foreigner or with children of foreign citizenship from becoming head of state.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's late husband is British, as are her two sons.

If the parliament endorses the recommendation, it is likely to strongly impact on the 2015 general election. Many believe Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party (NLD) stands a chance of winning, but support may drop off without Suu Kyi as its presidential candidate.

Myanmar's parliament is unlikely to change the constitution. The committee members who voted against a constitutional change were made up of lawmakers from the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party as well as members of the military itself, which holds a large majority of the legislative seats. Just two NLD members are on the committee.

The 2008 constitution was drawn up by the previous military regime as the basis for the country's gradual transition to democracy. Many believe clause 59 (f) was written specifically to halt any ambitions of Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest for years and became a global icon because of her fight against Myanmar's military rulers.

The military ruled Myanmar for 49 years until 2011, when a quasi-civilian government, led by former general Thein Sein, took office. Reforms pushed through since then have ended many international sanctions against Myanmar.

Push for change

Myanmar's lawmakers are looking at possible changes to the constitution ahead of next year's elections.

Suu Kyi's party has held public rallies to try and gain support, with the opposition leader saying change was needed in order for the elections to be free and fair.

A spokesman for her party, Nyan Win, said it was more concerned about amending clauses in the constitution that govern how changes can be made. If this can be done, the spokesman said, then it could be easier to change other clauses.

Nepal visit

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is currently on a four-day trip in Nepal, which she's visiting for the first time since a stint as a school teacher four decades ago. She is due to address parliament in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Suu Kyi visited Germany in April, when she was awarded the Willy Brandt Prize for her life of resisting oppression. The prize is named after the former West German chancellor who fled abroad from the Nazis as a young man and returned to rebuild democracy.

jr/slk (Reuters, AP, AFP)

Myanmar committee deals blow to Suu Kyi presidential hopes | News | DW.DE | 13.06.2014

Why am I not surprised.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Myanmar's Suu Kyi seeks global support for constitutional change

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  Aung San Suu Kyi. (Getty)

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on the international community to support her campaign to change a military-drafted constitution that bars her from becoming president, and help prepare "a fair playing ground" for elections next year.
By
AFP

Source
AFP
15 Jun 2014 - 4:03 PM UPDATED YESTERDAY 4:04 PM
The former political prisoner-turned-politician has been campaigning to amend the charter since she became a lawmaker two years ago.

The 2008 constitution blocks anyone whose spouse or children are overseas citizens from leading the country -- a clause widely believed to be targeted at the Nobel laureate, whose two sons are British.

In a speech to Nepal's parliament on Saturday, Suu Kyi said she wanted to participate in "genuine democratic elections, not just free but fair".

"Fair elections mean a fair playing ground," she added, explaining her campaign to change Myanmar's charter, which also reserves a quarter of seats in parliament for unelected military personnel.

"The movement for constitutional amendment is gaining ground," she said.

"It is very important that all our friends from all over the world keep aware of the developments in Burma and aware of the fact there are those who are trying to divert attention from genuine political needs."

Suu Kyi, 68, was released from years of house arrest in 2010, and a quasi-civilian government led by former general Thein Sein has since pushed reforms that have ended sanctions and overturned Myanmar's status as a global pariah.

Parliamentary elections due to be held in 2015 are seen as a definitive test of whether the military is willing to loosen its grip on power.

The president is selected by the legislature and Suu Kyi has declared her ambition to lead the country.

She has intensified her campaign to amend the constitution, with her National League for Democracy (NLD) party launching a petition last month seeking changes to the charter despite warnings from electoral officials.

Suu Kyi is currently on a state visit to Nepal and will tour the Buddha's birthplace, Lumbini, on Sunday, before being awarded the country's top peace prize.

Suu Kyi first visited the country as a teenager in 1962, when her mother was ambassador to India and Nepal.

She then moved to Kathmandu in 1973 with her husband, British scholar Michael Aris, and their baby boy Alexander, and taught English at a Buddhist school for several months.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi seeks global support for constitutional change | SBS News

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi calls for international help in bid to become president
Updated 2 hours 51 minutes ago


Photo: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the chairman of Nepal's constituent assembly, Subhas Nerwang. (AFP: Prakash Mathema)

Related Story: Clause to allow Suu Kyi to be president voted down
Map: Nepal

Myanmar's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for international help in her campaign to become president.

Ms Suu Kyi is barred from running for president in next year's elections in Myanmar under the constitution, drafted by the military six years ago.

A parliamentary committee last week voted not to change the constitutional clause, which effectively bars Ms Suu Kyi from the post of president.

It has been reported that the vote was 26 to five.

The 2008 constitution blocks anyone from leading the country if their spouse or children are overseas citizens.

It is widely believed the clause is targeted at the Nobel laureate whose late husband, Michael Aris, and two sons are British-born.

Myanmar's charter also reserves a quarter of seats in parliament for unelected military personnel.

On a visit to Nepal, Ms Suu Kyi told parliamentarians at the Constituent Assembly that she wanted to participate in "genuine democratic elections - not just free, but fair".

Explaining her campaign to change Myanmar's constitution, she said fair elections mean a fair playing ground.

"The movement for constitutional amendment is gaining ground," she said.

"It is very important that all our friends from all over the world keep aware of the developments in Burma and [are] aware of the fact there are those who are trying to divert attention from genuine political needs."

Ms Suu Kyi was released from years of house arrest in 2010.

Parliamentary elections due in 2015
A quasi-civilian government, led by former general Thein Sein, has since pushed reforms that have ended sanctions and overturned Myanmar's status as a global pariah.

Parliamentary elections due to be held in 2015 are seen as a definitive test of whether the military is willing to loosen its grip on power.

The president is selected by the legislature and Ms Suu Kyi has declared her ambition to lead the country.

Ms Suu Kyi has intensified her campaign to amend the constitution with her National League for Democracy (NLD) party launching a petition last month seeking changes to the charter despite warnings from electoral officials.

Ms Suu Kyi will be awarded Nepal's top peace prize during her visit.

She first visited Nepal as a teenager in 1962 when her mother was ambassador to India and Nepal.

Ms Suu Kyi moved to Kathmandu in 1973 with her family and taught English at a Buddhist school for several months.

AFP

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi calls for international help in bid to become president - Australia Network News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Support Suu Kyi!

 

[Genesis]

yea, this is fair, I mean this is head of state not a driver's license.

If in the future Myanmar is more stable, maybe, this can be changed, but as of this moment, I think it's better if Myanmar keeps this.

Not saying she would betray the country, but she may have some biases that are contrary to the country's interests. Of course this isn't a give, but....

Better safe than sorry. As I said it is the head of state, not the Pizza boy.