At least 350 nationalist monks and their supporters took to the streets of Yangon yesterday to support a constitutional clause that blocks Aung San Suu Kyi from assuming the presidency.
While article 59 (f) bans candidates with foreign relatives – Suu Kyi’s sons are British – the politician was floating its suspension.
Sunday’s rally was most likely organized by extremist Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha, which is virulently anti-Muslim, AP reported.
The protest had a distinctly anti-foreign flavor, with organizer Thant Myo Oo saying: “We support this event… because we don’t want outsiders, foreigners, overwhelming our country… Not only Suu Kyi, whoever is connected with outsiders, we cannot accept.”
Many among the crowd wore T-shirts that said: “Section 59(f) of the constitution is untouchable. It must be protected from a national security angle.”
