NLD spokesperson U Nyan Win said signatures for the petition, which proposes amending Article 436 of the Constitution giving unelected military members of parliament an effective veto over amendments to the charter, were collected in 308 of more than 330 townships throughout the country.

The signatures were collected during the 54 days between the launch of the campaign by NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on May 27 and Martyrs' Day on July 19, U Nyan Win said.

Amending Article 436 would help to achieve the essence of democracy in Myanmar, he said.

His comments were echoed by the 88 Generation's U Ko Ko Gyi who said amending the article would pave the way for changing laws that do not uphold democracy as well as articles than prevent the creation of a federal union.

"We believe that amending Article 436 will enable the country to be transformed with the least negative effects and we have set our sights on amending it for national reconciliation," U Ko Ko Gyi said.
 
He expressed concern about the timing of a proposal to parliament to consider changing the electoral system from simple majority to proportional representation.

The tabling of the proposal in parliament while the petition campaign was underway was like using political games as a tactical weapon, U Ko Ko Gyi said.

"We desire to advance collaboration between the different people in the political process," he said.

"I wish to respectfully request that everyone in this process not play the political game as a way of testing one's strength."

The NLD and the 88 Generation group said they planned to submit the petition to parliament.

In late February, President U Thein Sein requested that parliament consider enacting laws on marriage and religious conversion after he was sent a petition in support of an inter-faith marriage ban containing more than 1,000,000 signatures.