'All' Myanmar voters needed to amend charter

The Straits Times
YANGON - MYANMAR'S new constitution would require all of the country's eligible voters to approve important amendments, according to a leaked copy of the military's proposed basic law seen on Tuesday.
The constitution, which is set to go before voters in a referendum next month, has not yet been released to the public for review.

But leaked copies of the final document said that key amendments would need approval 'by all the voters.' Earlier drafts of the text had said that such amendments would require approval of 'more than half of all the voters'.

The requirement for universal voter approval would apply to any amendments affecting the president, the parliament, the courts, or the military's power to declare a state of emergency.

Other amendments affecting citizen's rights, elections and political parties could be approved with a 75 per cent majority of parliament, without need for a referendum.

The need for support from three-quarters of Myanmar's MPs for amendments would already make it difficult to change the charter without the military's consent, because serving soldiers would fill 25 percent of the seats.

Analysts said they doubted the change in wording was accidental, saying the military appeared intent on keeping its constitution, which guarantees sweeping powers for the armed forces even after multiparty elections planned for 2010.

'It is totally weird. It's not a typo,' said Thailand-based analyst Win Min.

'I understand they don't want the constitution to be changed, but the way they are doing it is unbelievable. I've never seen any constitution like that in the world.'

The 194-page draft constitution bars pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from running in elections, while giving the military broad power to declare a state of emergency and reimpose direct rule by the generals.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for more than 12 of the last 18 years, led her National League for Democracy to a landslide victory in 1990 elections, but the junta never allowed them to take office.

Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962, but the current regime tossed out the constitution when it seized power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy uprising.

At least 3,000 people are believed to have been killed in the crackdown. -- AFP