Dear friend,

As far as I know, the government did send out a peace feeler in the form of an article written by one of the government sanctioned writers. It was in one of the Dhamma magazines as they all now have to post a pro-government article as a way of keeping their registrations intact.

It explained in the article that the new President of Myanmar does not need to be a former member of the Armed Forces but must have experience in administration and also must have strategic military vision.

In my view, there are so many politicians from civilian society who have strategic vision at the national level.

See the American Presidents who are civilians but they have good military advisors who are loyal to the constitution, country and the President.

A leader must listen to his advisors and must give each of them to have their say without fear of losing their jobs or being put in jail for the advice they have given.

Look at how President Kennedy solved the Cuban Missile Crises with the support of the military and the experienced diplomats. See "Seven Days in May".

Km

Hi,

"It explained in the article that the new President of Myanmar does not need to be a former member of the Armed Forces but must have experience in administration and also must have strategic military vision."

I don't read well what you exactly want to tell. In the qulifications for president, it does not mention that the state president must be a former a military man. But it states that it should have experience in admin, military, politics and economies affairs.

The point is how the state president should be elected - there will be "the presidential electoral college" which will elect 3 vice presidents - one these vice president will become the state president. the second one will be the same as commandant in chief and defense minister. Ther is such a complicated procedure that hardly a civil man could become the state president anyway.

The point I would like to point out is that all admenments must need > 75% of parliment vote. While the civil part will keep hardly a mere 25-50% of the parliment, it would be a difficultly amendable constitution or almost impossible. This is what I would like the opposition just ask for a small compromise in the peoposed constitution and create a more space for future political environment. At least I see it more liberal constitution than 1974.

The tripartite talk the opposition are asking continuously - is i think is simply unreasonable. Every country wants federal state no exception why there are only 3 countries which use federal state system, US, Germany and I think Canada?

I would prefer that let country develop in education, economy and other domain, then we will see if ever we still need to build federal state!!!

All things change.

What propose can be disposed by unknown.

BR

Hi Warazein,

Firstly i do not care Brtitain has or doesn't have a constitution because UK is not my country. I am not interested in it.
And I think it is not UK with it we have comapre country. Geoplitics, the culture, the mind set of the people, all are different.

I appreciate you explianed me your experience. But I am not here to change the mind set if Myanmar military has such as a mindset then we too have the same mind set. I am suggesting my personal think to create an environment for working together for the sake of the country, that' all I want.

I just want a workable solution.

BR<br><br>Post edited by: MokeHimKha, at: 2008/01/12 00:13

MokeHimKha,

You asked the question:

QUOTE:
how can we bring change to Myanmar in peaceful way.

We are a small diverse group of bloggers and readers with a passion for burma-myanmar and that means the tools we have available to us to bring change to Myanmar in a peaceful way are pens and minds and passion.

I have seen the constitution mentioned quite a few times recently.

I would like to suggest this group could discuss the constitution and produce ideas for improvements.

nayting

Here is my thinking, it is not new I think the similar proposal has been made by others in The NC, but they were not taken into account by the junta: But time and situation have changed. The SPDC can make a small compromise as I suggest or similar to my suggestion - the problem is how to make them do it; one can argue that the drawing process of the constitution going on, we can't stop it. But if it is the head of the state can make change it, it's always possible as long as the drawing process is not finished.

The amendment of the proposed-constitution says that : to amend the following chapters need &gt; 75% of PyiDawnSu Hluttdaw + more than 50% in the referendum.

1. State Fundamental Principles
2. State Structure
3. Formation of Legislature
4. Formation of Executive
5. Formation of Judiciary
6. State of Emergency
To amend the others chapters of the constitution need &gt;75% of the Pyidawnsu hlutdaw members.

The Tatmadaw occupy 25% of the seats in the Pyidawnsu Hluttdaw + there will be at least 25% or more will be elected to the Pyidawnsu Hluttdaw from UNP or various pro-junta organisations.

The opposition can hardly occupy 50% of the Parliament seats. Obviously it makes purposely the constitution difficult to amend or almost impossible to amend.

Therefore if the SPDC wish their constitution be approved in the referendum, they should make a small compromise in the constitution. If I would advice for a win-win solution for both sides:

The SPDC should make (or the opposition should suggest that):

1. the above mentioned 6 chapters can be amended by &gt; 50% of the PyiDawnSu Hluttdaw members + &gt;50 % in the referendum 10 or 20 years starting from when the constitution is approved
2. The all other chapters can be amended only by &gt; 50% of the PhyidawnSu Hluttdaw members and it must take effect immediately after the constitution is approved.

These compromises are really in my point of view very reasonable and for the Myanmar military they really lose anything. For the country, it could facilitate the democratisation process step by step in future ( or evolution ). Moreover, we will not lose time for nation-building, it will open doors for military-civil working together for the country.

Note:

The proposed constitution compose of total 15 chapters as below:

1. State Fundamental Principles
2. State Structure
3. Head of State
4. Legislature
5. Executive
6. Judiciary
7. Tatmadaw
8. Citizens and Their Fundamental Rights and Duties
9. Election
10. Political Parties
11. Provisions On State of Emergency
12. Amendment of the Constitution
13. State Flag, State Seal, National Anthem, and the Capital
14. Transitory Provisions and
15. General Provisions

In my point of view, the opposition can make this kind of clear-cut proposal with the total support of Internation community (Gambari with UN) in return with acceptance of the four conditions set by Than Shwe for talk, we could get something concrete and make a step forward.

BR