NLD Patron Tin Oo: ‘Suu Kyi Should Be The President’

By Aung Thet Wine 2 February 2016

RANGOON — Tin Oo, National League for Democracy (NLD) patron, told reporters on Tuesday that NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi should become the country’s next president and that he would support her to assume the highest office in Burma.

His comments came at the conclusion of a four-day administrative training attended by 50 NLD state and division level lawmakers. The participants have been earmarked for leadership positions in the new government, including ministerial and speaker roles in subnational executive and legislative branches.

When asked by a reporter if the 2008 Constitution’s Article 59(f), which bars Suu Kyi from the presidency, would be amended, Tin Oo answered affirmatively.

“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be [the president]. She should. I will act as the stepping stone so that we can reach this achievement. That’s all,” said Tin Oo.

In addition to Tin Oo, a selection of speakers addressed the participants after the training’s conclusion, including NLD central committee member Win Htein, former Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann and party chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi, who called on the trainees to adopt practices of collaboration and cooperation.

“The training was about administrative work, mainly for division/state governments and parliaments,” said Mann Johnny, a training participant and lawmaker in the Irrawaddy Division parliament.

Among the trainees were three prominent members of Rangoon Division’s parliament: Phyo Min Thein, who is widely tipped to become the Rangoon Division chief minister, Naing Ngan Lin, who survived a knife attack ahead of November’s election, and former political prisoner Sandar Min.

Also present were Dr. Zaw Myint Maung from Mandalay Division Parliament, Dr. Aung Moe Nyo from Magwe Division and Nan Khin Htwe Myint from Karen State.

According to NLD lawmakers, negotiations for Suu Kyi to assume the presidency are ongoing between the party’s leadership and the military. If these efforts don’t succeed, sources say that the NLD is likely to appoint an interim president until Suu Kyi is accepted by the military establishment.

Translated by Thet Ko Ko.