Suu Kyi to handle rule of law, internal peace first in amending Constitution

Suu Kyi gives speech during first CEC conference (Photo-Zin Bo Lwin/ EMG)

Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday said rule of law and internal peace should be given priority in amending the military-drafted 2008 Constitution.

She made the remarks during the first meeting of the National League for Democracy’s central executive committee in Yangon on Monday.

"I believe that we need to aim for rule of law and peace, equal rights, mutual respects, and mutual understandings among ethnic people when we start amending the Constitution," said Suu Kyi.

According to Suu Kyi, some members of the central executive committee and other representatives have pointed out the need to be amended in the Constitution.

She said her party understands that they need to prepare for the release of an official list of the issues that need to be amended in the Constitution.

All the ethnic people including the Bamar race want an authentic federal system and receive mutual rights. The National League for Democracy has to try to fulfill the needs of the ethnic people and this is related to amending the Constitution, she said.

According to the Constitution, the regional administration does not have much authority as most of the authority is controlled by the central government. Some states and regions do not fully receive the rights given by the Constitution and the only rights they receive are not enough for them. MPs also do not receive full rights in the Parliament so NLD has to try its best for this issue in the Parliament, she added.

During the press conference of the Myanmar Constitutional Democracy Workshop on May 10, Suu Kyi have also said if the government truly wants peace, ceasefire is not enough and they need to handle practical issues that can maintain peace.

Ethnic leaders have also been trying for the emergence of the federal system as it is not allowed by the current Constitution.