Myanmar's Suu Kyi vows to amend junta-era constitution

Published April 18, 2016

FILE - In this April 5, 2016 file photo, leader of National League for Democracy party (NLD) and Myanmar's new Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi smiles during a press conference after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Suu Kyi vowed Monday, April 18, 2016 to push for constitutional amendments to build a true democracy in the Southeast Asian country as it emerges from decades of military control. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File) (The Associated Press)

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has vowed to push for constitutional amendments to build a true democracy in the Southeast Asian country as it emerges from decades of military control.

Suu Kyi made the comments in a nationally televised address to mark the start of the Buddhist new year.

The 70-year-old Nobel laureate called for a constitution "that will give birth to a genuine democratic union." She added, "We need constitutional amendments."

Suu Kyi's power to change the constitution remains hamstrung by the military, which still retains considerable power in government and parliament.

Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory in November elections, ushering in the country's first civilian government after 54 years of direct and indirect military rule.

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