Referendum Gives A Little Hope for Suu Kyi's Future presidency



I am unexpectedly excited hearing that Myanmar is about to have a referendum on amending 2008 constitution, hoping that the real regime change and democracy actually exist in Myanmar. However, I recall something and realize that the referendum will unlikely help boosting democratization process and enabling opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be the country's future president.

Recently, president of Myanmar Thein Sein has approved his country to hold a plebiscite in May, paving the way for revising the provisions of Junta drafted-constitution by signing the referendum law. Currently, the constitutional revision becomes the most controversial issue within Myanmar politics, and the opposition party has tries to advocate for constitutional changes, particularly article 59 of the constitution.
Article 59 of 2008 constitution states that " anyone whose spouse or children owes allegiance to a foreign power cannot become president or vice president". Mrs Suu Kyi was married to a British scholar, and she has two sons who granted the British citizenship. Thus, she is barred from running for the president of Myanmar after 2015 National Election.

However, the new move of president Thein Sein actually gives some hopes to the chair of opposition party Suu Kyi to run for presidential election next year. The chance of Suu Kyi to rule the country as the president is unlikely to happen in the years to come .

Despite the referendum, I still have a little hope to see her running for the upcoming presidential election. To get some provisions of constitution changed, it requires the authorization at least 75 percent of country's members of parliament and follows by 50% approval from Myanmar people during the referendum. I don't believe that former generals who are excitingly occupying up to 25 per cent of parliament seats will give authorization for constitutional amendment.

The move to hold referendum is made after Myanmar government has been consecutively criticized by the international community for its reluctance to speed up democratization process in the country.

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