Myanmar junta chief says civilians will lead government after polls

NAYPYIDAW (AFP) - Myanmar's junta chief Than Shwe said Thursday that civilians would take the reins of government after elections in 2010, once a constitution is approved giving broad powers to the military.

But he did not say when the public would be allowed to see the final version of the proposed charter, nor did he announce an exact date for a planned referendum to approve it.

"As the new constitution has already been drafted, it will be put to a national referendum in forthcoming May, and subsequently the multiparty general elections will follow in 2010 in line with the provisions of the constitution," he said to 13,000 soldiers at a military parade in the new capital Naypyidaw.

Foreign journalists were denied visas to report on the event, which came six months after a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks.

The 74-year-old general said his military government did not "crave for power," insisting on the junta's "ultimate aim to hand over the state power to the people."

Than Shwe made the remarks in a 15-minute speech during a ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day, the most important holiday on the military's calendar.

The event took place in a remote military compound under a scorching sun at a parade ground lined with towering statues of ancient Burmese kings.

Despite concerns about his health, Than Shwe appeared strong as he inspected the troops while riding in an open-topped limousine.

He stood on a open stage at a podium to deliver his speech, smiling and waving to foreign military attaches as he left.

The military chief made no mention of the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests, which the United Nations estimates left 31 dead as security forces violently disrupted mass marches led by Buddhist monks.

About 50 supporters of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked the occasion with a protest outside her party's headquarters in Myanmar's main city of Yangon.

Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the word "No," they chanted slogans against the regime's proposed constitution and called on the junta to open a dialogue with the democracy movement

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party has not endorsed the protesters' stand. The party has only said that the constitution is unacceptable to the public, but has not called for a boycott or a "No" vote.

The junta says the constitution would bar Aung San Suu Kyi from running in elections.

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, the only person outside the regime who has actually seen the proposed constitution, told Singapore's Straits Times newspaper on Wednesday that the charter would retain the military's dominant role in politics.

About 25 percent of the parliamentary seats would go to serving soldiers, while the junta would have the power to appoint personnel to key ministries such as defence, home affairs and border affairs, Gambari said in the interview.

While the proposed constitution calls for a multiparty democracy with regular elections, it gives extensive powers to the president, who can appoint or dismiss legislative and judicial officials, he added.

During Gambari's last visit to Myanmar from March 6-9, he was denied a meeting with Than Shwe but granted two visits with Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.

The junta rejected his offer to send observers during the referendum, and refused to consider amending the document to allow Aung San Suu Kyi to run in elections.

Information Minister Kyaw Hsan told reporters late Wednesday that the charter could eventually be amended once it is approved.

"Having one is better than nothing. We have to amend it gradually as we mature," he said.

Myanmar has had no constitution since 1988, when the current junta seized power by suppressing a pro-democracy uprising in a violent campaign believed to have left 3,000 dead.