Myanmar’s ousted leaders rescind Constitution, take away Military’s powers

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Ousted democratic leaders of Myanmar have said that they were rescinding the country's 2008 constitution, which gave significant power to the armed forces.</p>
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The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), or Parliament, on Wednesday announced the Constitution would be invalid from March 31, reports dpa news agency.</p>
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It is however unclear whether this move will have any consequences on the ground due to the February 1 military takeover of the country.</p>
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CRPH is an underground cabinet founded by members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.</p>
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The constitution brought an end to almost 50 years of military dictatorship, but it still gave the army automatically 25 per cent of parliamentary seats and several important ministries.</p>
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It was introduced by the military and changes to it are not possible without the consent of the armed forces.</p>
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Due to a constitutional clause, Suu Kyi was never able to become President, but as de facto leader she led the country as State Counsellor.</p>
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On Thursday, many people in Myanmar celebrated the CRPH announcement, with protesters burning the Constitution on the street.</p>
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"We must win and the junta must fail. They have pay for what they have done to civilians," Kyi Min, an entrepreneur, told dpa in Yangon.</p>
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After Suu Kyi's NLD won a clear majority in elections last November, the military staged the coup, arguing the election had been rigged.</p>
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Suu Kyi was arrested and has since then been under house arrest.</p>
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The military has violently cracked down on the ensuing protests.</p>
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According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit, at least 536 people have been killed by military forces since the coup.</p>
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<em>(IANS)</em></p>