Aung San Suu Kyi gave her latest speech about amending the 2008 constitution in Madalay Division’s Mogok on Sunday.
Her focus was on article 436, which states that for a bill to pass it has to have the approval of 75 percent of parliament.
However, as the army holds 25 percent of seats in parliament, they have the power to veto any motion that is not in their interests.
Suu Kyi said the army should be proud to be as one with the public, instead of isolated.
“If the Tatmadaw [Burmese armed forces] is not of the same blood as the people and stands separately, it is not good for the Tatmadaw or for our country,” she said. “That is why I say that we all should try to amend the constitution that isolates the standing of army.”
Suu Kyi went on to say that amending the Constitution would bring stability to the country, but any reform would have to happen gradually.
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“For the stability of the country and for everybody’s well-being, we have an intention to change and amend [the Constitution] step by step. It is important to start changing it from article 436. If we can change article 436, the people’s representatives can change the rest of the Constitution in accordance with the peoples’ desire,” she said.
Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) have been on a campaign across the country to rally support for constitutional change.
In February, the NLD and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (88 GPOS) signed a joint statement asserting their commitment to work together for charter reform.
Many people in Burma feel that amending article 436 is key to further constitutional reform and a more democratic country.
