Myanmar's Suu Kyi eyes landslide election win

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar's Suu Kyi eyes landslide election win

Yangon (AFP);-- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on her party Sunday to push for a landslide victory at crucial elections expected later this year as she celebrated her birthday with supporters.

The comments came after the Nobel Peace Prize winner -- who turned 70 on Friday -- cut a birthday cake alongside fellow National League for Democracy (NLD) luminaries during an official celebration at a restaurant famed for being a dissident meeting place.

Myanmar is expected to hold its first national vote in a quarter of a century sometime in October or November with many expecting Suu Kyi's NLD to sweep the board if the polls are free and fair.

But the dissident turned opposition politician warned party members against showing any complacency in the run up to the vote.

"We the National League for Democracy need to have a landslide win in the election," she told supporters.

"Whatever we continue to do, with the support of the people and the strong will of our party members we will be successful," she added.

Her comments underscore the long road to electoral success the NLD still faces, even though military rule has given way to a quasi-reformist government promising clean polls.

Under Myanmar's current constitution, a quarter of parliamentary seats are still reserved for unelected soldiers.

Analysts say the NLD needs to win as many seats as possible if they hope to effectively challenge the military's hold on parliament.

Meanwhile Suu Kyi is barred from becoming president under a rule that excludes those with foreign spouses and children -- a provision seen as aimed directly at Suu Kyi, whose two sons are British.

Technically Suu Kyi has yet to decide whether the NLD will even contest the polls. On Saturday she said a decision would be made shortly.

But in many ways, she has already begun campaigning with a series of high profile public appearances and speeches in recent months designed to solidify her position as the country's pre-eminent opposition politician.

The NLD are currently holding a two-day annual conference which has been dominated by discussions on the election.

Around 300 supporters gathered outside the Royal Rose restaurant, a popular NLD meeting place close to the city's towering Shwe Dagon pagoda.

Khin Win, 77, left her home at 3am for a chance to see Suu Kyi, who arrived for the celebrations dressed in a traditional blue sarong.

"I trust her and I admire her. I also believe that she is a credible leader," she told AFP.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-06-22

[gregk0543]

It it going to be really interesting to see how this election plays out. It could be the biggest democratic political change in Myanmar since the 1960's.

Hopefully this election will continue along the current pathway that creates the Freedom from Fear and the Freedom of the people that has been wished for the last 60 years.

Looking forward to this next landmark of Myanmar history.

[Katipo]

As long as the constitution dictates that 25% of all parliamentary seats go to the Army, and you need 75% majority to change the constitution, things are not going to move forward the way the country deserves.

[elgordo38]

It it going to be really interesting to see how this election plays out. It could be the biggest democratic political change in Myanmar since the 1960's.

Hopefully this election will continue along the current pathway that creates the Freedom from Fear and the Freedom of the people that has been wished for the last 60 years.

Looking forward to this next landmark of Myanmar history.

It looks like the Myanmar constitution will put a straight jacket on her. Expect the same here. They are on a learning curve here on constitutional makeup. They have learned from past mistakes. The next one will be iron clad. Political marionettes.

[Srikcir]

"an official celebration at a restaurant famed for being a dissident meeting place."

Has Myanmar replaced Thailand as the Hub of Democracy?

General Prayut would never allow such a meeting and he's got 50% of the parliament in the hands of the military.

[Stargeezr]

I really do not give Burma a lot of hope in any major

changes, not matter who gets elected. I do not trust the

military there to let any big changes happen too fast.

They love their corruption more than anything.

[gregk0543]

As long as the constitution dictates that 25% of all parliamentary seats go to the Army, and you need 75% majority to change the constitution, things are not going to move forward the way the country deserves.

Assuming that the army has only 25% they also do not have enough votes to affect the running of govt.

So yes constitution maybe a difficult thing to change but day to day business is open to the party with the most votes.

Will it be a free and fair election is the critical thing. Have we had one of those here ever?

The NLD will need to show it can rule and is not just one lady.

Also it is assumed that the Army 25% are in favour of not changing the constitution. What if that changes?

Remember we have got this far not because of the Lady, but because of the Army letting it happen.

Who is to say they would not consider changing a couple of things for the benefit of the country and its citizens?

[Katipo]

As long as the constitution dictates that 25% of all parliamentary seats go to the Army, and you need 75% majority to change the constitution, things are not going to move forward the way the country deserves.

Assuming that the army has only 25% they also do not have enough votes to affect the running of govt.

So yes constitution maybe a difficult thing to change but day to day business is open to the party with the most votes.

Will it be a free and fair election is the critical thing. Have we had one of those here ever?

The NLD will need to show it can rule and is not just one lady.

Also it is assumed that the Army 25% are in favour of not changing the constitution. What if that changes?

Remember we have got this far not because of the Lady, but because of the Army letting it happen.

Who is to say they would not consider changing a couple of things for the benefit of the country and its citizens?

Before handing over to 'civilian rule', the 'ex'-Generals handed themselves huge swaths of land and controlling positions in state run companies. Their power is diminished in name only.

Having said that, there does exist now the possibility for those who in the past could not rise above poverty, to do so. Unlike Thais who too often have a sense of entitlement (from taxi drivers, to fishermen, to politicians etc), 99.9% of people in Myanmar have never been given anything, and so are very hard working and industrious. It is these people who could bring about real change, and I sincerely hope they do so.

[gregk0543]

I was just adjusting my aerial in Yangon and found myself on the parliament channel.

They are discussing changes to the constitution today. The two points being changes that are mentioned in this article below.

The clause 59(f) which excludes Daw Aung San Su Kyi and the section 436 which is the 75%

Discussing will continue tomorrow. So expect a vote on this soon.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/12949-bill-proposes-change-to-sections-59-f-436.html

Further to this the motion is to reduce the 75% down to 70%.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/15068-bill-committee-issues-warning-on-constitutional-amendment-voting.html

The full myanmar text of proposed changes has been published in the Light of Myanmar recently.

http://www.networkmyanmar.org/images/stories/PDF19/Myanamr-Ahlin-12062015-Extract.pdf

[NickJ]

Bang.........

[gregk0543]

The last myanmar version list I put above seems to be wrong one.

This article is the latest news.

http://elevenmyanmar.com/politics/parliament-discusses-amendment-section-436a

[gregk0543]

Further to this on going and to be voted on today constitutional reform there is this article:

http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/sovereignty-at-stake-if-suu-kyi-presidency-clause-is-nixed-military-mp.html

To quote from that:

Lawmakers from the NLD, ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and smaller ethnic parties all spoke on Tuesday in favor of lowering the vote threshold, which grants the military an effective veto over constitutional change.

Elected members of the legislature appeared united in support of at least the basic need to change the Constitution on the opening day of the discussion, with even USDP members, many of whom are former generals, calling for a reduced role for the military by amending Article 436.

[gregk0543]

Oh well they lost the vote. Nothing is going to change for a while.

At least they had a vote but will have to wait and see what the numbers were.

http://www.voanews.com/content/ap-myanmar-parliament-blocks-changes-to-constitution/2836444.html