MANDALAY — Burma’s biggest opposition party announced on Monday that more than 3.3 million people have signed a campaign to change a constitutional article that gives the military a veto over amendments.
“As of today, the campaign has been going for one month, and we have received more than 3.3 million signatures nationwide,” said Tun Tun Hein, a central executive committee member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
The signature campaign, organized in collaboration with the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, started on May 27 and will run through July 19.
Tun Tun Hein said all signatures would be submitted to Parliament. “We believe the support of the people will push forward the amendment of Article 436,” he said.
Article 436 says constitutional reform can only take place with the support of more than 75 percent of lawmakers. This gives effective veto power to the unelected military lawmakers who control 25 percent of seats in the legislature.
Suu Kyi and 88 Generation leaders are touring the country’s biggest cities to encourage amendments. Suu Kyi plans to go to Pakokku, a city in Magwe Division, for constitutional talks on July 12.
