By Xinhua
Yangon : Myanmar’s national convention for laying down basic principles for drafting a new constitution ended here Monday, concluding its 14-year-long mission and signifying the end of the first step of a seven-step roadmap to democracy announced by the military government.
Acting Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein reiterated at the ceremony marking the end of the convention that Myanmar would continue to follow the government-set seven-step roadmap for drawing up a new state constitution, holding referendum, sponsoring general elections and forming a new government.
In the national convention, which originally started in 1993 after the 1990 multi-party democracy general election, detailed basic principles under the headings of a total of 15 chapters of a new state constitution were adopted with the final phase of the convention having run from July 18 this year.
The 15 chapters of the constitution include “State Fundamental Principles”, “Structure of State”, “Tatmadaw (Armed Forces)”, “Citizenship and Citizens’ Fundamental Rights and Responsibilities” and “Election”.
The one-and-a-half-month final session of the national convention held at the Nyaunghnapin Camp in Hmawby, about 40 km northwest of Yangon, was attended by more than 1,000 delegates from eight categories of delegate groups.
In accordance with the detailed basic principles adopted by the national convention, Myanmar will adopt an executive system of president as the head of state and empower a Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament) which comprises Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) and Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities) in legislation.
Politically, the country will pursue a multi-party democracy system, while economically it will adopt a market-oriented economic system.
Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of the union, will be designated as a union territory to be placed under direct administration of the president of the union.
Under the principles, the Tatmadaw (armed forces) will participate in the role of national political leadership of the state.
Twenty-five percent of the parliament representatives, who will be military personnel, are to be nominated by the armed forces commander-in-chief instead of being chosen through election.
Besides, armed forces members will also be nominated by the commander-in-chief to hold posts in union government ministries of defence, security, home affairs and border affairs.
Dealing with the country’s foreign affairs, the basic principles apparently designate that Myanmar will practise an independent, active and non-aligned policy, disallowing foreign troops to be deployed within the borders of the union.
According to the National Convention Convening Commission, the next step after the end of the convention is to set up a special commission to draw up a constitution based on all principles adopted throughout the convention.
When the new constitution draft emerges, it will be followed by a national referendum to get approval and then a new general election to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government in line with the government’s seven-step roadmap.