He was speaking at a rally to amend Section 436 of Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution in Pyay township, Bago Region on June 29.

The rally, attended by about 3000 people and organised by the 88 Generation group and the National League for Democracy, sought to support changes to the sectionthat requires any constitutional amendment to obtain the support of more than 75 percent of the Union parliament before it can be changed.

This provides an effective veto to the military representatives who form a 25 percent block in the parliament.

“The people of Myanmar know the history; the military seized power in 1962 and 1988 by the force of their weapons,” Min Ko Naing said. “Now, they do not use arms but instead they rely upon the constitution.”

Min Ko Naing added that the Minister for Home Affairs, Lieutenant-General Ko Ko, is a serving member of the military and that as administrators at all levels from Union to ward and village level report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, this effectively places this administration under military rule.

“Administrators who are regularly in close contact with the public do not dare contradict the will of their superiors,” he said.