Aung San Suu Kyi Says Burma to Amend ‘World’s Most Difficult’ Constitution

[Zomi for Federalization and Democratization of Bur]

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The 1947 Parliametary Democratic Constitution was abolished by the
BBBFMTR Military Government.

The 1974 Socialist Democratic (nor really democratic) Constitution was
abolished by the BBBFMTR Military Government.

The 2008 Fascist Militarist Constitution was drafted, approved,
prescribed, enforced, and imposed (upon the people) by the BBBFMTR
Stupid Government.

From 1948-till now, we have had three constitutions, two of which were
abolished illegally by the BBBFMTR Armed Thugs.

The third constitution, the worst of the three, should not be amended,
but also be abolished like the previous two.
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Aung San Suu Kyi Says Burma to Amend ‘World’s Most Difficult’
Constitution

By DANIEL PYE & THA LUN ZAUNG HTET / THE IRRAWADDY| Friday, May 10,
2013 |

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Photo:
10.-100513-ASSK-e1368191690572.jpg

Aung San Suu Kyi announces Burma will amend its constitution in
Rangoon on Friday. (Photo: J Paing / The Irrawaddy)
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RANGOON — Aung San Suu Kyi announced Burma will amend its constitution
to change the role of the military in politics, strengthen federalism
and reform the judiciary, in Rangoon on Friday.

But it was not clear whether future amendments would allow the pro-
democracy icon to run for the presidency in elections slated for 2015.
Suu Kyi told reporters at the conclusion of the three-day talks that
specific amendments had not been discussed, and she was not willing to
comment on a possible future presidential bid at the present time.

“The Burmese constitution is one of the most difficult constitutions
to amend in the world,” Suu Kyi told The Irrawaddy. “I would like to
amend the constitution as soon as I can.”

When asked about whether the constitution would be amended to allow
her to run for president in 2015, she said no specific amendments had
been decided on.

“I’m not willing to discuss that matter at the present time,” she told
reporters.

The announcement came after three days of talks led by Sydney
University and including government representatives, political
parties, academics, ethnic minority groups and civil society
activists. The meeting was the first of its kind with such a broad
spectrum of influential parties involved, including members of the
Union Solidarity and Development Party, which is dominated by former
military officials.

The Constitution was written under the former military government in
which current President Thein Sein was prime minister, and the USDP
was set up largely as a civilian proxy of the military.

“At present, the constitution is the most difficult constitution in
the world to amend, the most difficult,” Suu Kyi told reporters. “If
we want to amend the constitution, we have to change the process of
amendment.”

The constitution requires a majority of more than 75 percent to pass
legislation, while 25 percent of seats are reserved for the military.
“This is impractical,” Suu Kyi said. Amending the constitution
requires a vote in which more than 50 percent of elected officials
must support the amendments, she added.

But Suu Kyi said at the meeting that the party which she leads, the
National League for Democracy (NLD), and the USDP had agreed to work
together on drafting the amendments. She told The Irrawaddy, however,
that it was a little early to talk about forming a coalition with the
USDP ahead of the 2015 election.

“If they really want to change the constitution, there’s no reason not
to fully co-operate with them,” Suu Kyi said. “All together we can co-
operate. The USDP made a proposal to organize the committee to amend
the constitution. We did support that proposal.”

Conflict with armed ethnic minorities seeking greater autonomy has
defined much of the country’s history since it obtained independence
from Britain in 1948. In early April, fighting broke out in Shan State
in eastern Burma between government forces and ethnic Shan rebels.

“Peace doesn’t mean only ceasefire agreements,” Suu Kyi told The
Irrawaddy, referring to the recent resurgence of violence in ethnic
areas. “We all have to preserve peace. We all have to take more steps
to preserve peace.”

“Now the war happened because we didn’t take any steps [to stop it],
that’s why war happened. To preserve peace in Shan State, Kachin State
and elsewhere, we have much work to do. One of them is the amendment
of the constitution.”

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23 Responses to Aung San Suu Kyi Says Burma to Amend ‘World’s Most
Difficult’ Constitution
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Terry Evans Friday, May 10, 2013 - 2:19 pm

Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today.
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Reply
U NU Friday, May 10, 2013 - 2:22 pm

I endorse Gen 88 for the 2015 election.
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Reply
nyuntshwe Friday, May 10, 2013 - 2:38 pm

All citizens agree to amend the constitution, but talking outside
the parliament was, in fact, not official. I agree to amend the
constitution’s many articles, but won’t give my consent to amend
either article 59F or 121 F. The two should remain as it is. In fact,
59F is the replica of Bogyoke Aung San cabinet’s article 74 (1) of
1947. Daw Suu always says that the authority had targeted her by
writing article 121F. She said no one should be targeted. I don’t
think she is a target, but an example by marrying foreigner and having
family of foreign citizens.

If that fact is not important to become a good service man for the
top post of the country, then why not advertise to hire any citizens
who have brilliant qualification in administration; may be fine
graduate of Kennedy Government School of Harvard. After all, it’s more
than a salary man at the top. I believe Daw Suu should sacrifice her
desire to become a president. If she were allowed, then a lot of
Myanmar citizens who already married or are going to marry with
foreigners would follow her suit. I’m sure even Bogyoke Aung San would
not give his consent on this matter if he were alive. I repeatedly
reject to change those articles in the future. You may write a
completely new constitution and scrap all the quota of military
personnels if you like, but every constitution of Myanmar from now on
must keep those two articles in tact.
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Reply
Salt Grass Saturday, May 11, 2013 - 1:19 am

Mr. Nyunt Shwe,
I respect your view. But I would like to see free and fair
election first and those elected representatives must rewrite the
constitution throwing this Nargis constitution in the dumpster. I read
from the beginning to the end several times. To me this one is just a
trash.
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Reply
Ohn Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 8:50 am

No truer words been said!
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Reply
Norman Hla Monday, May 13, 2013 - 4:31 am

dear Salt Grass
100% agree with you, I also fed up a lot of suggestions,
opinions and laws regarding to the constitution before the fairness
( democratic election) appears in Burma.
U nu wrote constitution with 2 bamans without ethnics’
opinions and involvement just after independence. U nu’s one has been
started to be rubbish until now. However, we still hear many with high
flow, arrogant opinions about constitution, nationality and
sovereignty. There is no “A” but want to be ” Apple” in the world most
poorest , uneducated country, Burma.
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Reply
Norman Hla Saturday, May 11, 2013 - 5:03 pm

Anybody with holding Burmese citizenship ( no dual
citizenship) can be Burmese president. Appropriate personal lifestyle
is own personal value in the context of love, marriage, food choice
and religious belief as well. Having foreign husband and wife is not
sin, ugly and selfish. Killing and bullying weak, innocent ones and
minority are sin and ugly with low born and uneducated.
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Reply
Salai Lian Monday, May 13, 2013 - 2:42 am

Very good comment indeed, Norman. I love it.
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Reply
Young Blood Friday, May 10, 2013 - 3:56 pm

Constitution is the foundation of building a nation. Communist
countries have constitution which help the communists to build
communist nations. Nations with democratic governments have
constitutions which are best to uplift their nations and their
nationals. However, constitution of the Union of Burma is a tumbling
block to build Union of Burma into a genuine democratic nation. The
constitution was just designed to protect military dictators from
prosecution. Nargis constitution is not solid rick but muddy and
filthy.
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Reply
Tettoe Aung Saturday, May 11, 2013 - 5:33 am

Dear Young Blood, if Constitution is the foundation of
building a nation then there would not have been an oldest democracy
such as Britain. I have no doubt that communist countries such as
Russia (used to be Soviet Union), China and others may have the best
Constitutions but do they protect the interests of the people, I guess
not. So, without the culture of ‘respect for the rule of law’ a
country may have the best constitution but the letters in that text
would never came alive. Britain has ‘Magna Carta’ which is nothing
like a Constitution but it’s something when the Americans drafted
their Constitution they said they want something like what the
Englishman had. The military regime’s 2008 Constitution is not worth
the paper that it’s printed on.
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Reply
George Than Setkyar Heine Saturday, May 11, 2013 - 2:52 am

That’s HER JOB SINCE DAY ONE of course.
She should FOCUS on CHANGING the Nargis constitution drawn by Than
Shwe and his hoods with the SOLE PURPOSE to PROTECT their ASSES and
ASSETS in the first place and as an INSTRUMENT as well in IMPLEMENTING
their DESIGN – establish a self-serving system where the MILITARY and
their CRONIES would MONOPOLIZE the ECONOMY and POLITICS of the country
while the PEOPLE would be OBLIGED to SERVE as SLAVES under their PAY
and RULE as well as obviously.
This is a REPEAT of the GAME PLAYED some centuries past in EUROPE
where the KING, his NOBLES and LANDLORDS GANGED UP and TURN the PEOPLE
into their SLAVES working on their LANDS and SERVING the KING and his
NOBLES in return for LIVING OUT their WRETCHED and MISERABLE LIVES
only.
Of course Than Shwe’s CLERK (Thein Sein) has a NUMBER of JOBS for
Suu Kyi LINED UP to KEEP HER BUSY as well already, any bets?
Most heinously as well is the fact: the Chinese communists are
given the FREE REIN to EXPLOIT the SITUATION and NATURAL RESOURCES of
the COUNTRY in addition to FLOODING the LAND with ethnic Chinese
peasants and laborers and MONOPOLIZING the country’s ECONOMY on one
hand while Than Shwe, his cohorts and hoods run the PEOPLE and COUNTRY
under their BRAND of DEMOCRACY on the other of course.
Put it simply: the fact that an NLD delegation was invited to
observe the workings of the CHINESE CONGRESS and news in the pipeline
of a constitutional review committee being formed served as EVIDENCE
and certainly SMACKS of a CASE in POINT as well: CLONING the
PARLIAMENT at Naypyidaw into a REPLICA of the CHINESE CONGRESS where
there is NO OPPOSITION to AIR the DIFFERING OPINIONS much less
SUGGESTIONS (like in a DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM) and COMPELLED to WORK
ACCORDINGLY (like in a COMMUNIST SYSTEM in China today) under the
DICTATES of the RULING BODY comprising of members of the NLD and USDP
among others IN THE INTERESTS of the PEOPLE and COUNTRY of course like
they are DOING in Beijing as well.
This is NOTHING LESS THAN A PLOY to SILENCE the PEOPLE’S
ASPIRATION/DESIRE and STRUGGLE for DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM and HUMAN RIGHTS
and instead TURN THEM INTO “ZOMBIES” under the BRAND of a FAKED
DEMOCRACY if not COMMUNISM like in China today.
Well, the BIG PICTURE is THERE for ALL to WITNESS man!
Of course Than Shwe has drawn his constitution with the VITAL VIEW
of KEEPING Suu Kyi out of the RULING BODY and POLITICAL PICTURE of
BURMA as well in the first place.
And Suu Kyi’s PRESENCE in that RESPECT and REGARD is NON-
NEGOTIABLE in BURMA as well obviously given her ACUMEN not to mention
POPULARITY and TRUST HEAPED on her by the people of Burma.
Hence, it is a CASE of EITHER OR for that matter today.
And Suu Kyi has VOWED to CHANGE Than Shwe’s TOOL (constitution)
for his PROSPERITY and POSTERITY of his CLAN and CRONIES of course.
Well, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS ANYBODY’S GUESS and EVERYONE to BEHOLD
of course I say.
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Reply
NE HTUN Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 8:28 am

Where is our real ASSK ? She has changed, tried to become a
real dirty politician. Her party has no manifest.. no clear policies,
in-fighting among the party members for their post after 2015
election. She is now in favor of many chinese funded projects (she was
against before she was free), she dislike Blood sucker Tay Za and Zaw
Zaw and few crooks, but she is now in favor of them and telling us
that these are good people.. NLD (Uncles and Aunties Party) all
decision makers are 70 years old and above, some of them are 80++ !!
Majority poor people were with her party, supported for her freedom.
She ditched all of them.
DSSK, you will see the election result in 2015. You think
Burmese people have a short memory ? Wrong…
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Reply
Tettoe Aung Saturday, May 11, 2013 - 5:25 am

It must be the most difficult constitution to amend but not the
most difficult to ‘scrap’ it. How many constitutions has the military
in Burma scrapped? Not just one but two already. Daw Suu must be
looking OVER in search of a solution. She must be the only civilian
who has been invited to attend ‘the exclusive’ military parade. The
military is also good at staging a ‘mock’ or ‘real’ coup. So, there is
an easy solution to those who seek in the right place.
==
Reply
Thu Saturday, May 11, 2013 - 11:15 pm

121F should be amendent as it was obviously settled against
DASSK ! She was born in Burma form burmese parents marrying a man of
different nationality should not be hampering anybody to run for
presidency ! become burmese by marriage is another story it isnt the
case here !
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Reply
Maung Lu Aye ( Law ) Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 1:57 am

Thomas Paine Had quoted ” A thing antecedent to a Government, and
a Government is only the creature of a Constitution. The Constitution
is not the act of its Government, but of the People constituting a
Government “. It is very Clear that the So-called Burma’s Govt. had
created Nargis Constitution, While Hundred & Thousand of People
suffering of the Gigantic Cyclone in Irrawaddy Delta by Ambushing the
Majority People aggressively . No Doubt that, in order to avoid the
Prosecuting by the Future Genuine Democratic Govt. 25 % of the
Parliamentary seats are unfairly reserved by the Military . Even some
of them are Butchers and Murderers ( eg. The Late Sein Lwin, Ne Win &
Tin Aung Myint Oo etc). As a matter of fact, if Gen. Aung San is
alive, he wants his Military to go back to Barracks and mind their
own
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Reply
Maung Min Nway Monday, May 13, 2013 - 2:13 am

It is a stupid idea if she is still thinking and dreaming to
be a next president of Burma .
Most of the people in Burma are now become understand her
selfishness and greed for power rather than seeking Real Democracy.
This old lady words have no value since she sided with Junta
and ignored the voices of monks, students and poor people.
It is a shame for her just hoping to become a president and
underestimate the knowledge and suffering of people who lost their
lives , have been risking their lives and still cheating by the Junta
since 1962 and no hope for real Democracy in near future.
Best advice for her is just retire from politic and going
around the word like a tourist
just to save her father’s name.
We Burmese citizens are not idiots and we know who is a real
hero and who is the villain.
Lady—Wake up from dreaming too far
best for your future –give up the Euphoria
or you can end up with senile dementia.
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Reply
Angry Man Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 9:09 pm

Suu Kyi is approaching 70 now. She does not care about
money. She can live with the awards she already got awarded. She has
been fighting for democracy for the past two decades. You made
baseless accusation against Suu Kyi. Your stepfathers may be selfish
but Suu Kyi is sacrificing her whole life for us. Her mom(Khin Kyi)
was sent in exile(Sent her as Ambassador to India was exile from Ne
Win). Suu Kyi was to accompany her mom because she was still a teenage
girl. She grew up there in exile. So, we can say that she sacrificed
her life since day one. Losing her father, accompanying her mom in
abroad and sending time under house-arrest for many years. Do you
still label her as selfish? I do not know where you come from. Maybe,
you are from Nay Pyi Taw or you are a slum dog.
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Reply
Ohn Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 8:50 am

What a blooney!

Painting the deck chairs on the Titanic?

Well opportunists and misguided lots, this women being Herr
President will simply be a harder downfall for her with more tumult
than the country is already facing.

Any thing based on Than Shwe Crap the world is now
enthusiastically endorsing as it serves their purpose will enslave the
people in further and further poverty and slavery than ever imaged.

For crying out loud, that crap belongs in filth dump as it is.
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Reply
Sai Lin Kan Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 7:47 pm

Obviously, current Constitution must be rewritten for sake of all
Burmese ethnics.
The Constitution is illegal written by former dictator Than Shwe
for it own protection and given more power to Military over elected
Government.

All Green Uniform gentlemen must go back to where they belong. If
they want to stay in the Parliament and then they must change their
Uniform and enter the election.

I support President U Thein Sein’s democratic reform for Burmese
peoples because I believe the democratic reform will benefit all
Burmese ethnics. Also I see President is well aware about disadvantage
health, education, logistic and economy ln rural ethnics’ area and he
is keen to develop minority ethnics’ area where all past Governments
have ignored.

I believe President U Thein Sein knows current Constitution is
illegally written by former dictator Than Shwe for it owns safety and
majority of Burmese do not like it. It’s time for President U Thein
Sein and Gen Min Aung Hlaing to stand side by side with peoples of
Burma.
The country Constitution should not be written for group of
peoples instead of majority Burmese peoples. Undemocratic Constitution
must go.
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Reply
Maung Naing Monday, May 13, 2013 - 5:12 am

This constitution and 1982 citizenship law have the same nature of
illogics. Hence must amend and must voice together to amend both.
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Reply
Khin Monday, May 13, 2013 - 6:59 am

I agree with Norman Hla and Salt Grass. I want to see Daw Suu as a
president for the sake of our country.
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Reply
Aung Minn Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 2:30 pm

We all have to remember that she is the lonesome warrior. Myanmar
people of 50+ millions could not do arms struggle against the regime
for over 25 years, but they can lean to 969 radical movements to
attack the Muslim minority of 4% of population. Libya’s 6 or 8
millions overthrew the regime, but not Myanmar heroes. No matter who
she is, she is having hell of a struggle to control people and
government.
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Reply
Maung Min Nway Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 6:19 am

Hello! Angry Man- You are not only angry but also coward as you
don’t even have the proper name.
No wonder some stupid persons have blind faith in their leader and
barking up the wrong tree
whenever their leader was criticized .
For your information I have no stepfather but if you still have
your father you should be disciplined by him for rudeness and
stupidity.
1–Living comfortably in a peaceful country and getting a good
education was not a sacrifice.
2–Did she have any involvement in any political activity for our
country during last 26 years (1962–1988)-No ..No ..No .
3–Under house arrest could not be compared with being
tortured ,jailed or killed.
According to Oxford Dictionary –Selfish means ‘concerned mainly
with one’s own need or wishes’.
ASSK only wishes to be a president but not concerned about
people ,students or monks.
Did you think students ,monks and farmers are still loving her?
No..No ..No
You can carry on barking me like a stray dog to gat a favour of
your master.
I will not be waking up from my sound sleep and check the door
every time you bark.
Be polite .calm..and relax…Time will tell who is correct.
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Reply
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