Burma's ethnic minority leaders expressed skepticism on Wednesday about the results of the country’s National Convention following the military government’s announcement that the body will convene its final session on July 18.
State-run The New Light of Myanmar reported on Wednesday that junta leaders decided to make the announcement during a meeting of the National Convention Committee on Tuesday in Naypyidaw.
“It will be the final session,” Secretary 1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein, who also serves as the chairman of the National Convention, was quoted as saying in the New Light report.
Burma’s ethnic leaders were quick to react. Aye Tha Aung, chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy and the secretary of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament, said the constitution that will be produced by the convention will not establish democracy in the country, and neither will any future elections.
One of the goals of the convention is the drafting of a new state constitution.
“My evaluation of the current situation, as well as the future of our country, is that nothing good will come from the government’s unilateral approach,” said Aye Tha Aung. “They can continue to do things one-sidedly, but the political parties and ethnic groups won’t accept it.”
Aye Tha Aung added that he expects the international community and the UN would also reject any unilateral solutions by the ruling junta that failed to honor the wishes of the Burmese people.
Nai ong Ma-nge, a spokesperson for the ethnic ceasefire group New Mon State Party, said the drafting of a new constitution must involve the participation of all of Burma’s ethnic groups and political parties, particularly those of the National League for Democracy, the unanimous winners of Burma’s ill-fated 1990 elections.
The NMSP, which participated in previous sessions of the convention, has since withdrawn its delegates citing the lack of free discussions.
“It is a fake convention,” Cin Sian Thang, chairman of the Zomi National Congress, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. "It doesn’t deserve the name National Convention.”
State media reports in Burma said the final session will see the adoption of all remaining chapters of the constitution as well as a review of previously approved sections to ensure the absence of “flaws and weaknesses.”
Burma’s ruling junta selected 1,081 delegates—most of them supporters of the regime—for the last session of the convention. Delegates from the NLD did not attend because the government refuses to release the party’s general secretary, pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, and Vice Chairman Tin Oo.
Officials from the NLD told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday they were not ready to comment on the resumption of the National Convention.
Burma’s National Convention has been roundly criticized by the international community and activists inside and outside the country for being stage-managed by the ruling junta and not representing all sections of Burmese society.
The convention’s previous session convened at Nyaung Hnapin camp in Hmawbi Township from October 10 to December 29, 2006, during which delegates were said to have agreed on basic principles for a new parliamentary system, the role of the armed forces and the “Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens.”
State-run The New Light of Myanmar reported on Wednesday that junta leaders decided to make the announcement during a meeting of the National Convention Committee on Tuesday in Naypyidaw.
“It will be the final session,” Secretary 1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein, who also serves as the chairman of the National Convention, was quoted as saying in the New Light report.
Burma’s ethnic leaders were quick to react. Aye Tha Aung, chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy and the secretary of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament, said the constitution that will be produced by the convention will not establish democracy in the country, and neither will any future elections.
One of the goals of the convention is the drafting of a new state constitution.
“My evaluation of the current situation, as well as the future of our country, is that nothing good will come from the government’s unilateral approach,” said Aye Tha Aung. “They can continue to do things one-sidedly, but the political parties and ethnic groups won’t accept it.”
Aye Tha Aung added that he expects the international community and the UN would also reject any unilateral solutions by the ruling junta that failed to honor the wishes of the Burmese people.
Nai ong Ma-nge, a spokesperson for the ethnic ceasefire group New Mon State Party, said the drafting of a new constitution must involve the participation of all of Burma’s ethnic groups and political parties, particularly those of the National League for Democracy, the unanimous winners of Burma’s ill-fated 1990 elections.
The NMSP, which participated in previous sessions of the convention, has since withdrawn its delegates citing the lack of free discussions.
“It is a fake convention,” Cin Sian Thang, chairman of the Zomi National Congress, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. "It doesn’t deserve the name National Convention.”
State media reports in Burma said the final session will see the adoption of all remaining chapters of the constitution as well as a review of previously approved sections to ensure the absence of “flaws and weaknesses.”
Burma’s ruling junta selected 1,081 delegates—most of them supporters of the regime—for the last session of the convention. Delegates from the NLD did not attend because the government refuses to release the party’s general secretary, pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, and Vice Chairman Tin Oo.
Officials from the NLD told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday they were not ready to comment on the resumption of the National Convention.
Burma’s National Convention has been roundly criticized by the international community and activists inside and outside the country for being stage-managed by the ruling junta and not representing all sections of Burmese society.
The convention’s previous session convened at Nyaung Hnapin camp in Hmawbi Township from October 10 to December 29, 2006, during which delegates were said to have agreed on basic principles for a new parliamentary system, the role of the armed forces and the “Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens.”
