Chairman of National Convention Convening Commission Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein delivers an opening address at the National Convention at Nyaunghnapin camp at Hmawbi on July 18. Pic: AFP/Khin Maung Win

THE National Convention to draft a new constitution resumed on July 18 for what the government said would be its final session, which could last about six weeks.

The session of the National Convention, being attended by 1058 delegates, was opened by the Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Lieutenant General Thein Sein, at the government-owned Nyaunghnapin camp at Hmawbi, north of Yangon.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Lt Gen Thein Sein stressed the importance of the constitution for a democratic transition.

He said the constitution was the first requirement to change to a new political system.

“A hasty change from one system to another will trigger terrible blunders that may harm the nation,” said Lt Gen Thein Sein, who is also the chairman of the National Convention Convening Commission.

“The new constitution should be suitable to the nation and the people,” he said.

The National Convention reconvened in May 2004 in the first step of a seven-stage road map for a transition to democracy announced by the government nine months earlier.

The National Convention first convened in 1993 but was adjourned in 1996 after the National League for Democracy withdrew from the proceedings.
The party declined an invitation to participate in the convention when it reconvened in 2004.

The new session will discuss the adoption of provisions in seven remaining chapters of the 15 in the draft charter.

Lt Gen Thein Sein said the seven chapters concern the holding of elections, the formation of political parties and the conditions under which a state of emergency can be declared, as well as formally designating the state flag, the national emblem, the national anthem and the capital.

“This session is the final one, so it is required of you delegates to make a thorough review of the adopted basic principles and detailed basic principles so that all the principles are harmonious with one another,” Lt Gen Thein Sein said.

The provisions agreed at the National Convention will be basis for drafting a new constitution, which will be Myanmar’s third since independence in 1948.
The Information Minister, Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan, told reporters after the opening ceremony that the government will appoint new committees to draft the constitution, which he said will be completed “fairly soon”.

“This last session of National Convention will last for one-and-a-half months and after that SPDC will appoint new committees to draft the constitution. I can expect this process to be completed soon,” Brig Gen Kyaw Hsan said.

According to the road map, a national referendum to approve the draft constitution will be followed by parliamentary elections.