"In a move that could put Myanmar’s civilian government on a collision course with the powerful military, a parliamentary committee submitted this week proposed amendments to the country’s constitution. The anticipated report contains more than 3,700 recommendations for proposed changes to the military-drafted charter, which carves out a strong political role for the armed forces including via control of the defense, home and border affairs ministries. In 2015, the National League for Democracy (NLD) scored a landslide electoral victory, capturing 135 of the 168 seats up for grabs in the upper house and 255 of 323 in the lower. Despite the heavily touted transition from direct military to quasi-democratic rule, the military controls 25% of all seats in each legislative chamber through constitutionally allowed appointments of its khaki-wearing representatives. The NLD’s resounding election victory was won partly on a promise to amend the unpopular charter – and the party is now making the politically sensitive moves as it prepares for pivotal 2020 elections. The NLD has long advocated for changes to the charter’s article 436, which requires approval from more than 75% of MPs to amend crucial articles, and 59(f), which states that the president and vice president must be born of Myanmar citizens and cannot have foreign spouses or children..."