NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar’s parliament on Thursday dealt a body blow to Aung San Suu Kyi’s hopes of amending a junta-era constitution that barred her from the presidency before landmark elections, voting down a bill to end the military’s effective veto on charter change.

The vote, held after three days of energetic debate between uniformed soldiers and elected MPs, saw parliament shoot down a draft amendment that would have loosened the military’s political stranglehold.

Myanmar’s parliament continues to be dominated by the army and former generals despite reforms that ended decades of outright junta rule in 2011.

Observers say the military, which trampled on dissent and laid waste to the economy during their rule, is staunchly opposed to any further reduction of its powers.

The 436 amendment bill was “not enacted”, parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann told the legislature, after 388 lawmakers — or around 60 per cent — voted in favour of the change, below the threshold of 75 per cent needed for it to pass.

The amendment was seen as key to changing further clauses.

The result virtually extinguishes Suu Kyi’s chances of the presidency at this stage because of a provision excluding those with foreign children from the top office. Her sons are British.

Speaking directly after the result, Suu Kyi urged Myanmar’s people not to “lose hope” after the failure to amend any major parts of the constitution.

Striking a note of defiance, she vowed the opposition would not “back down” from elections slated for October or November.

“From now on, we will focus on the election,” she told reporters.—AFP

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2015

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