National Convention successfully concludes
Delegates adopted fundamental principles and detailed basic principles that are vital for perpetual existence of the Union of Myanmar and peace and prosperity of national races. Lt-Gen Thein Sein delivers concluding speech at plenary session of National Convention.
Chairman of National Convention Convening Commission Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein gave a concluding speech saying that the delegates of the National Convention discussed fundamental principles and detailed basic principles for drafting the State Constitution and now it has been successfully completed. National Convention Convening Commission, National Convention Convening Work Committee and National Convention Convening Management Committee, joining hands with delegates have successfully implemented the tasks. He proudly said that the National Convention attended by national races delegates, Township-wise delegates, delegates of Political Parties and representative-elect, delegates of all walks of life and other invited persons is the sign of united strength. Delegates to the National Convention had discussed and laid down the policies which are the basic foundation for endurance of the Union of Myanmar and peace and prosperity of the people. Fundamental principles and detailed basic principles have to be based in drafting the new State Constitution. Since 1992, efforts have been made to hold the National Convention to be able to formulate the new State Constitution.
State Law and Order Restoration Council issued declaration No 11/92 on 24th April 1992 and started implementation tasks for holding National Convention and meeting were held from 23rd June to 10th July 1992.
Leaders form legal political parties, elected delegates and individual elected delegates attended the meeting and decided unanimously the delegate groups and the members of delegates who should be invited to National Convention.
According to the decision of the meeting, 8 delegates group such as delegates of political parties, Representative-elect delegates, National Races delegates, Peasants delegates, Workers delegates, delegates of Intellectual and Intelligentsia, State Service Personnel delegates and other invited person delegates were allowed to participate. Delegates of Political Parties were selected by their respective parties.
Representative-elect delegates selected by their respective parties and individual delegates were invited. The other delegates were selected from respective Townships, Departments and organizations.
He also said that the National Convention was held starting from 9th January 1993. As all have known, National Convention which is in full swing was temporary adjourned in 1996.
The Government laid down 7-point Road Map on 30th August 2003 and National Convention resumed on 17th May 2004 as implementation of the first step. The National Convention was held 6 times from 1993 to 1996 and 5 times from 2004 to date and today, the National Convention was concluded successfully.
He said that the entire people have long for the peace and development of the State. That’s why, the Government have been implementing the tasks for establishing a new peaceful, modern and developed nation by laying down 4 political objectives, 4 economic objectives and 4 social objectives.
Border areas and national races development project, 24-special regions development project and rural development projects were laid down and implemented with concerted effort for stability of the State and prevalence of law and order for strengthening the State’s economy and building up an educated nation which are essential in practicing democracy. The efforts add the value of the Union and upgrade national interest.
Success has been achieved achieve with our own efforts amongst disturbances at home and abroad.
The State Constitution plays a vital role for our brighter future and maintaining the success we have already achieved. He said that efforts have been made for drawing a new State Constitution because the 1947 and 1974 State Constitutions are no longer suitable for present situation.
The 1947 State Constitution was drawn by 71 members. The 1974 State Constitution was compiled by 97 members of the Draft Constitution Drawing Commission.
This time, reviewing the past lessons, regarding the present situation and anticipating the brighter future, over 1,000 delegates of 8 delegates groups discussed again and again and laid down the basic principles. Thus, all the delegates know very well that these principles are more deeply effective and full of political essence.
These sound results are because of the constructive attitudes of the delegates in making discussion for the benefit of the Union although they are from different strata of life – some are national races and some are from those groups that have returned to the legal fold and thus they may have different outlooks and concepts.
Concerning the detailed basic principles, already laid down by the National Convention, some self-centered organizations also persuaded the nationals with fabricated news on the rights of the national races.
In fact, comparing with the State Constitution drawn in the past, basic principles laid down by the present National Convention undeniably proves that rights of the national races are specially offered.
In 1947 State Constitution, the State was comprised only with 4 States - Kachin, Kayah, Kayin Ni and Shan States, and 1974 Constitution permitted 3 more national- Chin, Mon and Rakhine to be able to form respective States. According to the already laid down principles of this National Convention, the future State will be formed with one self-administered Division for Wa nationals and one self-administered region each for Naga, Danu, PaO, Palaung and Kokant nationals in addition to the already existed 7 States and 7 Divisions.
Besides, there will be Government bodies and region or State Chief Justice in respective legislative and administrative affairs as well as the judiciary matters of the respective States and Divisions In setting up the region or State Hluttaws, two delegates per township will be included. Out of the nationals from self-administered region, every national race which has over 0.1 per cent of the State’s population will have a chance to represent a delegate at respective region or State Hluttaws. Those national races who are living in self-administered Division and regions without haulag self-administration will have a delegate in self-administered leading group if they have over 10,000 population. Pessimists who are criticizing the basic principles that cover even the rights of minorities are those who create to break the Union up.
In conclusion, the Secretary-1 stressed that the desired democratic society can firmly build the Union, live unitedly and join hands for national development, share the achieving results and harmoniously serve the interest of the national races.
In other words, it is the one which upholds the State Policy – our three main national causes. He called for concerted efforts of the National Convention delegates and the public unitedly in every step of launching the genuine and discipline flourishing multi-party democratic system keeping in fore our three main national causes.
With the objectives;
(1)Non-disintegration of the Union;
(2) Non-disintegration of national solidarity;
(3) Perpetuation of sovereignty;
(4) Flourishing of a genuine multi-party democracy system;
(5) Further burgeoning of the noblest and worthiest of worldly values such as justice, liberty and equality; and,
(6) The Tamadaw to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the future State,the National Convention, which was reconvened on 18th July,2007 as the 5th time and final session ,was successfully concluded.
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