Myanmar enters period of preparing to go to polls

China View
2008-04-10 14:27:34
YANGON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- With Wednesday's announcement of the government-formed 45-member Commission for Holding Nationwide Referendum designating May 10 as the date of launching the referendum on a constitution draft, Myanmar started entering into a period of preparing to go to polls exactly a month away from now.

Earlier on Wednesday, Myanmar formally released a 194-page constitution in the form of a booklet, drafted by the government-established 54-member State Constitution Drafting Commission in accordance with the detailed basic principles laid down by the National Convention.

According to an earlier remarks of Information Minister Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan in a meeting with then visiting United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari, Myanmar citizens, who are either supporters or opponents, could exercise their equal polling rights to freely vote in favor of or against the constitution draft in the forthcoming nationwide referendum in May and then free campaigning by political parties will be granted in the general election to be followed in 2010.

Meanwhile, member of the commission for holding nationwide referendum U Thaung Nyunt also said polling would be conducted in line with the international systems, rejecting the monitoring of the referendum by foreign observers as well as the United Nations' proposal to render technical assistance to the referendum.

According to the state fundamental principles contained in the constitution draft, the future name of Myanmar will be the Republic of Union of Myanmar. It will politically pursue a "genuine and discipline-flourishing multi-party system" and the military will participate in the "leading role in the country's national politics".

The state basic principles designate that Nay Pyi Taw is the country's capital and stands as a union region directly under President's administration and the country's inalienable administrative regions will be demarcated as seven regions and seven states of national races as well as six self-administered zones or higher-level division of six ethnic minorities.

The country will adopt an executive system of President as 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. The legislative power is shared by union parliament, region parliament and state parliament as well as self-administered zones' or divisions'.

The draft constitution prescribes that the military holds 25 percent of the parliament representatives in different-level parliaments and military members included in the administration of defense, security and border affairs are to be nominated by the armed forces' commander-in-chief.

The defense services commander-in-chief will represent the supreme commander of all armed forces and is legitimized to take over and exercise all state power in case a state of emergency arises that could cause disintegration of the union, disintegration of national solidarity and loss of national sovereignty.

It also stipulates that the constitution text cannot be amended without the consent of more than 75 percent from the parliament and more than half of the number of eligible voters.

With regard to judicial affairs, the basic principles designate free jurisdiction according to law except cases restricted by law. Detention of a citizen for over 24-hours without trial by the court shall not be allowed, it said.

Dealing with the country's future foreign policy, the constitution also states that Myanmar will practice an independent, active and non-aligned one and maintain friendly relations with nations, upholding the principles of peaceful coexistence among nations. It does not allow foreign troops to be deployed in the country.

Economically, it will adopt a market-oriented economic system, allowing the private sector to participate in the economic undertakings of state, regional, cooperative and joint venture organizations for national economic development.

The draft constitution guarantees no nationalization of private economic enterprises and demonetization of legal bank notes.

According to the Feb. 9 government announcement, besides the nationwide referendum, a multi-party democracy general election to transform the military administration into democratic administration will follow in 2010 in accordance with a government roadmap.

According to the roadmap announced in August 2003, the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.

Meanwhile, some legal experts here said there are people who agree to approving the constitution draft but there are also people who oppose some articles in the draft. Directing at the forthcoming nationwide referendum, the NLD headquarters in Myanmar, in a special statement issued on March 31, has urged people in the country to vote against the constitution.