YANGON: Myanmar’s opposition has gathered millions of signatures in support of changes to a constitution that bars its leader Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president, in a show of political strength ahead of elections next year.
Suu Kyi has travelled the country drawing crowds of thousands with speeches urging the military to accept a reduced political role, as her party of democracy veterans touts its moral authority in the former army-run nation.
The petition, which was launched in May, had gathered around three million signatures by early July.
“In a democratic country the people’s will is important. That is why this is important,” Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said.
The campaign, which ends yesterday, is focused on altering a provision that currently ensures the military has a veto on any amendment to the junta-era charter. AFP
