Minn Lyonn – The Mon National Party (MNP) will join the National League for Democracy (NLD) in calling for an amendment to Article 436 of the 2008 Constitution, which gives the army a veto power over any constitutional changes.
Article 436 states that any amendments to the constitution require the support of at least 75 percent of parliament members and then must be approved by at least half of all voters in a nationwide poll.
Because 25 percent of parliamentary seats are reserved for un-elected military officers the army can effectively block any constitutional changes that MPs attempt to vote through parliament.
The MNP has agreed to join the campaign to amend Article 436—a movement launched by the NLD and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group—at an emergency executive meeting on June 4th at its main office in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State.
Dr. Min Kyi Win, Joint Secretary of the MNP, said that “We at the MNP will back amending any charter or part of the 2008 Constitution. The NLD has offered to join the MNP and help organize campaigns to get signatures from the public for a petition to amend Article 436.” Min Kyi Win then added that at the last Mon National Conference, the MNP called for re-writing the entire 2008 Constitution, not just Article 436.
Dr. Min Nwe Soe, General Secretary of the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) and the Mon State Minister of Economy and Planning, said the AMDP does not completely accept the 2008 Constitution. Rather, the party wants to see some articles slowly amended and will monitor the situation regarding the amendment of Article 436.
“We have already submitted to [Parliament] which articles of the 2008 Constitution we would like to see amended. If we look at Article 436 there are some problems with amending it. If we can amend this article it would be easier to amend other articles. Article 436 must be amended, but we want the reforms to come slowly and peacefully,” said Dr. Min Nwe Soe.
Across the country, the NLD and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group have been organizing campaigns; distributing pamphlets; holding public meetings; and giving public speeches about Article 436. They are also asking people to sign a petition calling for the amendment of Article 436.
In Mon State, the campaign to amend Article 436 will be launched in Moulmein on June 14th. The effort is being organized by several groups, including the Moulmein-district branch of the NLD; the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group; the MNP; Mon State student unions; and civil-society organizations based in Moulmein.
MNP Joins NLD in Calling for Amendment of Article 436
Minn Lyonn – The Mon National Party (MNP) will join the National League for Democracy (NLD) in calling for an amendment to Article 436 of the 2008 Constitution, which gives the army a veto power over any constitutional changes.
Article 436 states that any amendments to the constitution require the support of at least 75 percent of parliament members and then must be approved by at least half of all voters in a nationwide poll.
Because 25 percent of parliamentary seats are reserved for un-elected military officers the army can effectively block any constitutional changes that MPs attempt to vote through parliament.
The MNP has agreed to join the campaign to amend Article 436—a movement launched by the NLD and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group—at an emergency executive meeting on June 4th at its main office in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State.
Dr. Min Kyi Win, Joint Secretary of the MNP, said that “We at the MNP will back amending any charter or part of the 2008 Constitution. The NLD has offered to join the MNP and help organize campaigns to get signatures from the public for a petition to amend Article 436.” Min Kyi Win then added that at the last Mon National Conference, the MNP called for re-writing the entire 2008 Constitution, not just Article 436.
Dr. Min Nwe Soe, General Secretary of the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) and the Mon State Minister of Economy and Planning, said the AMDP does not completely accept the 2008 Constitution. Rather, the party wants to see some articles slowly amended and will monitor the situation regarding the amendment of Article 436.
“We have already submitted to [Parliament] which articles of the 2008 Constitution we would like to see amended. If we look at Article 436 there are some problems with amending it. If we can amend this article it would be easier to amend other articles. Article 436 must be amended, but we want the reforms to come slowly and peacefully,” said Dr. Min Nwe Soe.
Across the country, the NLD and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group have been organizing campaigns; distributing pamphlets; holding public meetings; and giving public speeches about Article 436. They are also asking people to sign a petition calling for the amendment of Article 436.
In Mon State, the campaign to amend Article 436 will be launched in Moulmein on June 14th. The effort is being organized by several groups, including the Moulmein-district branch of the NLD; the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Group; the MNP; Mon State student unions; and civil-society organizations based in Moulmein.
