Myanmar parliament may review country's pro-military constitution

YANGON - Lawmakers in Myanmar say parliament may agree this week to establish a commission that would consider amending the country's 2008 pro-military constitution, which critics charge is undemocratic.

A lawmaker from opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, Phyo Min Thein, says the two houses of parliament might agree on Wednesday to form the commission.

The NLD has long said that the constitution is undemocratic because of provisions that allow the military to control a substantial percentage of parliamentary seats and disqualify Suu Kyi from running for the presidency.

However, the proposal to establish the commission comes from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party. Some members of the party say they want to change provisions concerning state governments to allow ethnic minorities increased self rule.