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The move could pave the way for a Suu Kyi presidency. Photo: EPA

Five million back curbing Myanmar military's role in politics

Myanmar's main opposition party says it has collected about five million signatures seeking reduced powers for unelected military members of parliament as the country, which emerged from dictatorship in 2011, moves towards an election next year.

Myanmar's main opposition party says it has collected about five million signatures seeking reduced powers for unelected military members of parliament as the country, which emerged from dictatorship in 2011, moves towards an election next year.

The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has spearheaded the campaign, which ended on Saturday, to rescind Section 436 of the constitution. That clause requires a 75 per cent vote in parliament to amend most sections of the constitution - all but impossible for an opposition party to achieve. But the NLD's efforts are unlikely to make much of a difference.

Striking down clause 436 has been the focus of the drive, which has gained support in the country for a second goal - to enable Suu Kyi to run for president.

Although she remains popular, Suu Kyi is ineligible for the presidency under a constitutional provision which bars candidates with a foreign child or spouse - her late husband was British as are both her sons.

Tun Tun Hein, an NLD official responsible for the petition, said the party was still counting signatures but predicted a total of more than five million. He said the party would decide how to present its petition to the government when counting finished at the end of July.

The NLD canvassed the country of 60 million for almost two months, tapping into discontent among many who say the military should withdraw from politics after ruling for 49 years.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: 5m back curbing army role in politics
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