''developed Discipline-flourishing Democratic State''

[LaoPo]

'Discipline-flourishing democracy' in Burma promised

Marwaan Macan-Markar in Bangkok

6/10/2007

BURMA'S acting prime minister, Thein Sein, has summed up in four words the political direction his country is headed for once a new constitution is approved. It will be a ''developed discipline-flourishing democratic state,'' he says.

His view was made known this week as he unveiled plans to resume the final session of the military-ruled country's National Convention (NC), a body that has been assigned by the junta to draw up the country's third constitution.

''Delegates will have to make some amendments, additions and nullifications to some of the points after thoroughly reviewing all the adopted fundamental principles and detailed basic principles to ensure that the constitution is free from flaws,'' he said at a meeting of the NC's convening commission, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Burma watchers are hardly surprised by such language flowing from the lips of a leading figure of a repressive regime. What has aroused more interest is the about-turn by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as the junta is officially known, to kick-start another round of talks earlier than scheduled.

The final round of the NC will begin on July 18 at a venue on the outskirts of Rangoon, Burma's former capital, months ahead of what was reported in March, when government officials confirmed that the NC's next round of deliberations would be late this year.

"It is another sign of the panic that has set in. That is why the dates for the national convention have been brought forward,'' says Debbie Stothard of the regional human rights lobby ALTSEAN, which stands for the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma. ''They fear they are losing more support among their own ranks.''

full article:

http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3....649&spcl=no

LaoPo