More than a hundred people in Yangon yesterday staged a protest for the second time against several military-related clauses on presidential qualifications enshrined in Myanmar's Constitution.
The protestors, who sought permission from authorities, marched in procession along three main roads from the starting point of the City Mart in Mingalar Taungnyunt Township. They shouted slogans and held banners reading 'Down with Sections 59 (d) and (f)' that require presidential candidates to be familiar with military affairs.
"We also plan to stage further protests in other townships. We want only a public leader to become president. The people have long been in poverty. A good leader needs to emerge for the sake of the people. The government should amend the constitution if it respects the public desire and voices," said Zaw Win from Democracy Force.
One protestor said the demonstration was organised by the public and political forces to demand that Section 59 (d) and (f) of the Constitution be amended as quickly as possible. The political activists and organisations criticise the presidential qualifications of the 2008 Constitution for preventing the emergence of a civilian government.
Section 59 (d) states that the president or the vice-president must be well acquainted with the affairs of the Union such as political, administrative, economic and military.
Meanwhile, Section 59 (f) says that anyone who has a spouse or children who are foreign citizens shall not be eligible for the presidency or vice-presidency. Suu Kyi's late husband was a British citizen, as are her two sons.
Most protests in Yangon are staged in the city centre but this latest one took place in the suburbs.