Myanmar News Links: Mon residents protest for constitutional amendments

Friday, 28 March 2014

Mon residents protest for constitutional amendments

Thursday, March 27th, 2014

People attend a protest to amend the 2008 Constitution on Mon state capital. (photo: Facebook)

Min Lyon – About three-hundred recently protested for amendments to Myanmar's 2008 Constitution in Mon state capital Moulmein.

Starting at 8 am, people walked from bridge 4, at Kannar Lan [Street] to Thanlwin Market shouting "amend the Article 436 right now", "Article 6 (F) is unnecessary" and "amend the article 59 (F)".

Article 436 gives the Burmese military an effective veto over Constitutional amendments. It requires that support of more than 75 percent of members of the Union Parliament, in which a quarter of seats are reserved for unelected serving military officials, are required for any changes.

Ma Htay, who watched the protest unfold, told IMNA that although police were carefully watching, they didn't interfere.

More than 700, led by the National League for Democracy, staged a protest in Tavoy Town in Tenessarism Division.

U Ye Htut, said, a protest leader, told IMNA many locals attended even though they didn't invite them. "We submitted [a permit to protest] for 1000 people, but it was granted very late so we did not have time to invite the locals. Because people also joined the protest, we are very glad."

Many other protests against the 2008 Constitution were reported to have broken out on the same day across the country.