By Taisamyone

As the much maligned National Convention starts its last session (at least of the present stage of the road map) there has been a flurry of activity both inside Burma and from the pro-democracy groups around the world. As we might expect not a word of dissent or criticism from inside Burma – such non-approved utterances can, and does, get you up to 20 years in jail. So much for “the Tatmadaw government organized the NC to serve as a forum of the entire nation.” A forum where any speech must be approved by the junta-controlled committee and any views not in line with the junta’s views are dismissed and don’t even get an acknowledgement.

This week, the New Light of Myanmar has dragged out all the old junta propaganda about the history of Burma since pre-independence to the present day, listing their own warped version of events, likening DASSK to the assassins of her father (just to rub salt in the wound) and claiming that the National Convention will solve all of Burma’s political and economic ills (and all thanks to the Tatmadaw!). The people of Burma must just be patient and wait until the ‘road-map’ has completed and a discipline-flourishing democratic government has been elected – one which will be totally controlled by the junta, lacking any democratic aspect and perpetuating the current state of affairs in another guise – i.e. it can be called BSPP, SLORC, SPDC, National Convention or whatever, but it is still the same – iron fist totalitarian fascist control of the state by a gaggle of generals and their odious minions.

As we might expect, one of the clearest reviews of the present workings of the National Convention has not been the state-controlled New Light of Myanmar, but ALTSEAN’s excellent report ‘National Convention: Roadmap To Instability’: “The National Convention is part of the problem and not the solution to Burma’s troubles. The results will intensify the root causes of the ethnic based conflicts perpetuated by Burma’s successive military regimes.” The report highlights the main issues of the National Convention with its own version of the 7 point Road Map, which I hope to summarize here;

Step1: Ignore the law; ignore the 1990 election results, make up new laws to go with there own needs.

Step 2: Exclude elected MPs; MPs elected in 1990 have been progressively marginalised and now form just over 1% of the delegates.

Step 3: Handpick delegates; mostly USDA and junta-friendly cronies. Many ethnic opposition groups have decided to boycott or express their strong opposition to the National Convention for its lack of inclusiveness, transparency, and freedom.

Step 4: Take delegates hostage; “Delegates are virtually under house arrest”, said UN Special Rapporteur Sergio Pinheiro in June 2004 – today the situation remains unchanged. Delegates are cut off from the outside world and ordered not to talk to non-delegates about anything that comes out of the National Convention ‘discussion’ sessions without prior clearance from the junta controlled committees.

Step 5: Ban free and open debate; The convention’s proceedings have been characterized by a gag on open discussion and the silencing of dissenting voices. Any documents for discussion must be pre-approved by the National Convention junta controlled working committees. Constitutional proposals submitted by various ethnic nationality groups have been repeatedly rejected or not raised for open debate. Moreover, the junta has failed to address the concerns of many delegations about the military’s leading role in Burma’s national politics, as guaranteed by the National Convention’s 6th objective.

Step 6: Criminalize dissent; The SPDC has banned and criminalized public debate and expression of ideas with regard to the National Convention’s proceedings.

Step 7: Set no timeframe; At the October 2006 session, the regime made it clear that there was no end in sight to the National Convention. “The timeframe is not important for us,” said the junta’s Information Minister Brig-General Kyaw Hsan as the convention got underway. It remains unclear what the NC will have achieved since its inception, apart from keeping the junta in control since it began and with its content firmly keeping the junta in control into the future.

It is only the junta and their international friends (e.g. China) who parade the National Convention as a road to democratic government. All pro-democracy groups, the US, UN, EU and many others see the National Convention as a travesty of justice, a deception, a betrayal of the people of Burma, an exclusive event that excludes anyone who cares to voice an independent opinion and several non-ceasefire and ceasefire groups. The National Convention does not represent the wishes of the people – it represents the wishes of the SPDC military junta. When the time comes we need to say NO to the junta’s National Convention – only a constitution drawn up by all concerned parties and ethnic groups, a process which takes account of all views, a constitution that meets the needs of the true federal union and self-determination that so many groups call for, truly a venue for dialogue that will be acceptable to all – then we can say YES.

1. ‘Dare to say No!’ is a catchphrase of the ‘Drug Abuse Resistance Education’ scheme that operates in the USA and the UK, with police officers from 43 countries participating and implementing their programmes. D.A.R.E. provides a programme for school children; that gives them the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence.
2. ALTSEAN-Burma (Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma) is a network of organizations and individuals based in ASEAN member states working to support the movement for human rights and democracy in Burma. The network is comprised of human rights & social justice NGOs, political parties, think tanks, academics, journalists and student activists. ALTSEAN was formed at the conclusion of the Alternative ASEAN Meeting on Burma held at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, in October 1996.

FURTHER INFORMATION

¨       National Convention: Roadmap To Instability

¨       Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC)

¨       Opposition calls for changes to constitution

¨       Burma prepares for final National Convention

¨       Myanmar to resume charter talks

¨       National Convention: A Lie and A Kid Stuff of SPDC _ By Nai Ja Noi Marn / Monnet Yahoo group

¨       New Light of Myanmar