Vehicles pass by a billboard advertising the National Convention in Yangon last week. Pic: AFP

MYANMAR is poised to embark on drafting a new constitution following the completion of work by the National Convention last week to adopt guidelines for the charter.

“The National Convention delegates successfully completed drawing fundamental principles and detailed basic principles for the writing of a constitution,” the Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Lieutenant General Thein Sein, told the closing session on September 3.

The principles adopted by the National Convention for inclusion in the constitution – which will be Myanmar’s third since independence nearly 60 years ago – provide for the establishment of a parliamentary democracy, with executive presidential rule.
The government said a committee would be formed to draft the charter, which will be put to a national referendum for approval.

The final session of the National Convention began on July 18 for its fifth meeting since resuming in May 2004 as the first phase of a seven-step roadmap for a transition to democracy unveiled by the government the previous August.

It was the 11th session of the convention since it convened in 1993.
In his speech to delegates last week, Lt Gen Thein Sein said the principles adopted by the National Convention provided more rights for national races than had been granted under the two previous constitutions.

“It is undeniable that if compared with previous constitutions, this constitution vests national races with better rights on the basis of the prevailing conditions of the nation,” Lt Gen Thein Sein, who is also the chairman of the commission that oversees the National Convention process, told the closing session held at the convention’s venue, the government-owned Nyaunghnapin camp in Hmawbi, north of Yangon

He said that apart from the existing seven states and seven regions, which are now called divisions, separate self-administered regions for Wa, Kokang, Pa-O, Danu and Palaung national races in Shan State as well as for Naga national races in Sagaing Division will be established under the new constitution.

Lt Gen Thein Sein said the principles also provided more legislative and judicial powers to the regional authorities.

The convention was attended by more than 1000 delegates from eight categories of society, including members of political parties, those who won seats in the 1990 elections and members of national groups and armed national groups.

The principles agreed at the National Convention recommend practicing a “discipline-flourishing genuine” multiparty democratic system in the Roadmap
country with the executive powers to be in the hands of an elected president.
The agreed principles state that contenders for the post of president are required to have sound knowledge on “affairs of State such as political, administrative, economic and military affairs”.

They also say contenders must have lived continuously in the country for at least 20 years at the time of elections.

On legislative powers, the agreed principles call for establishment of two houses of parliament, with a total of 664 seats. One-fourth of those seats will be filled by military personnel appointed by the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

They also recommend the establishment of regional legislative assemblies in each state and region, as well as in self-administered regions.

On judiciary matters, they recommend the establishment of a supreme court and high courts in each state and region as well as in self-administered regions.

On foreign affairs, the principles say the country should exercise independent, active and nonaligned foreign policy and should not allow any foreign troops to be deployed in the country.

On economic issues, the principles recommend a market-oriented economic system. They also recommend that Nay Pyi Taw be officially recognised as the nation’s capital.