When outgoing Minister for Information Ye Htut told reporters last week that if Suu Kyi wanted to be president, her sons should seek Myanmar citizenship, most people considered the comments somewhat false.
A low blow, too, given that the Lady – who spent decades under house arrest while her children were growing up in the UK – is thought to be estranged from one of her sons, who are both foreign nationals.
Now, a group of Buddhist nationalists have echoed the call, publicly backing the clause that blocks her bid for the presidency on account of her foreign relatives.
They plan to hold a rally in support of Article 59(f) soon, the Irrawaddy reported.
“We heard that the amendment or suspension of Article 59(f) would be discussed in the Parliament to allow Suu Kyi to become president,” Win Ko Ko Latt from the Myanmar Nationalist Network told the publication. “We’re worried that would stop Parliament and lead to a military coup.
“We heard that her two sons and their spouses can seek Burmese citizenship. If Suu Kyi were to become the president in that way, without touching the article, we could accept that.”
The organization has applied for permission to stage a rally on February 28, with speakers including the ferociously anti-Muslim chairman of the Peace and Diversity Party Nay Myo Wai.
