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 Thein Sein, the reformist general and former top member of the
army regime that ruled Myanmar for 49 years, said changing the
constitution could help national reconciliation and he did not
support laws that bar anyone from becoming president.
"I would not want restrictions being imposed on the right of any
citizen to become the leader of the country," Thein Sein said in a
monthly televised address to the nation.
"At the same time, we will need to have all necessary measures in
place in order to defend our national interests and sovereignty."
The comments by the president are likely to be welcomed by
opposition leader Suu Kyi, the 68-year-old leader of a peaceful
two-decade struggle against military dictatorship, who has in recent
months stated her wish to become president.
For now, Suu Kyi is ineligible for the top post because her two sons
are British citizens.
The comments are the latest show of openness by a president who has
surprised the world with an array of reforms that were unimaginable
under the junta, like the release of hundreds of political
prisoners, liberal investment laws, legalizing protests and
scrapping of media censorship.
Thein Sein, 68, has yet to declare whether or not he will retire
from politics after the next election in 2015, or seek a second
term. Other contenders include parliament speaker, Shwe Mann, 66,
another key reformer who outranked Thein Sein in the former junta.
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According to Myanmar's constitution, the legislature, not the
people, are responsible for choosing a president.
Three panels representing the lower house, the senate and lawmakers
chosen by the military each nominate a presidential candidate. A
vote of the bicameral parliament then takes place, where one of the
three candidates is chosen as leader.
Myanmar's parliament has appointed a committee to draft
recommendations about how to change the constitution, which critics
say is too centralized and offers too much power to the military.
The committee said on Wednesday it had received 323,110 suggestions
via 28,247 letters ahead of the December 31 deadline for public
feedback. It is expected to submit its report during the next house
session, which starts on January 13.
Han Tha Myint, a senior member of Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy (NLD) party, said the NLD had no immediate comment on the
president's speech.
(Writing by Martin Petty; editing by Robert Birsel)
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