Suu Kyi urges Myanmar’s army to back constitutional reform

Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday called on the powerful military to get involved in reforming the country’s junta-era constitution, which currently bars her from becoming president.

The Nobel laureate, who has repeatedly asserted her readiness to take on the top political job, said the nation’s “tatmadaw” army was “essential” in amending the charter, which is currently being debated by a parliamentary panel that includes soldiers.

“The tatmadaw must not remain in a dilemma about whether to take part in amending the constitution. It must take part in it,” she told members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) at a ceremony to mark Myanmar’s independence from colonial rule.

Myanmar’s President Thein Sein, a former general who has won international praise for reforms since he took power in 2011, on Thursday lent his support to constitutional reform in a monthly speech published in state media.

He also said he supported amending provisions which exclude anyone whose spouse or children are overseas citizens from becoming president – a clause widely believed to be targeted at Suu Kyi, whose two sons are British.

“I would not want restrictions being imposed on the right of any citizen to become the leader of the country,” Thein Sein said.