Deal on section 436 could rule out Suu Kyi presidency

Deal on section 436 could rule out Suu Kyi presidency

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin   |   Thursday, 19 June 2014

Members of the Constitutional Amendment Implementation Committee say they are close to a deal with military MPs that would remove the Tatmadaw's veto on constitutional change – on the proviso that they do not amend section 59(f), which bars Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency.

Under section 436 any change to the constitution requires the approval of 75 percent of hluttaw members, and in some cases a national referendum. As one-quarter of seats are allocated to serving military personnel, this effectively gives the military a veto over amendments.

But some civilian committee members, speaking on condition of anonymity, say they are close to a deal with their military counterparts that would see the threshold reduced to two-thirds of all MPs in exchange for not touching section 59(f)

They say that only three committee members are still resisting the proposal.

"If we can bring round the remaining three members, it will be okay," said an unnamed committee member.

Section 59(f) of the constitution bans from the presidency citizens whose families include foreign nationals, a provision widely regarded as being aimed at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Committee secretary U Aye Mauk told The Myanmar Times last week that the committee is finalising amendments to chapter 12, which contains section 436, but refused to confirm a possible deal involving section 59(f).

"I cannot confirm this. The final decision will be made by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, with the participation of all members," U Aye Mauk said.

He said all of the proposed changes would be submitted together, rather than individually at different times.

"Our consideration of chapter 12 is almost complete. But we will submit the draft to parliament only once the whole draft is concluded. We meet every day and hope to submit it six months before the election," U Aye Mauk said.

In February, President U Thein Sein established a 31-member committee to review the constitution and to submit to parliament recommendations for its amendment six months before the election scheduled for next year.

The committee is deliberating against the background of a campaign by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy to gather signatures for a petition demanding amendments.
– Translation by Zar Zar Soe

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/06/20/deal-on-section-436-could-rule-out-suu-kyi-presidency/