Junta’s foes woo ethnic allies with new Myanmar constitution

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Opponents of Myanmar’s military government have declared the country’s 2008 constitution void and put forward an interim charter to replace it. The moves are symbolic but still a major political challenge to the junta. They could help woo the country’s armed ethnic militias to ally themselves with the mass protest movement. The 2008 constitution ensured military dominance during the country’s brief period of civilian rule, and the junta says its government takeover in February was legitimate under the charter. The junta meanwhile announced a unilateral one-month cease-fire, but made clear it did not apply to the protesters.