Leading activists and academics in Myanmar are uniting behind opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of Nov. 8 parliamentary elections, hoping that a decisive win for her party will help force the military to relax its grip on power according to a report by Reuters on 23 July.
Frustrated by failed efforts to change the constitution and remove the military's legislative veto, several of the country's best-known reformists said they would run as candidates for the popular National League for Democracy (NLD).
However, even if democracy activists help the NLD to do well, a constitution guaranteeing 25 percent of seats for unelected members of the armed forces is still enough to block change to the constitution.
Offering to run for parliament are Aung Thu, rector of Yangon University, Nay Phone Latt, an influential free speech advocate, and Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe, head of the Karen Women's Action Group.
In addition, KoKo Gyi, a leader of the 1988 pro-democracy students movement also plans to represent the NLD, party officials have said.
Academics and activists to unite behind Aung San Suu Kyi
24 July 2015
Academics and activists to unite behind Aung San Suu Kyi