The National Convention

The Irrawaddy presents a chronology of the developments and setbacks in Burma’s National Convention since 1992.

July 29, 2006

At a meeting in the new administrative capital Naypyidaw, Lt-Gen Thein Sein, chairman of the National Conventional Convening Commission, claims that 75 percent of the new 15-chapter constitution has been drafted.

July 27, 2006

During the Asean Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the junta’s foreign minister Nyan Win says that conclusion of the National Convention could possibly be announced by the Asean Summit in December.

May 24, 2006

The UN Under Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari says the National Convention would not resume until October during a briefing at UN headquarters in New York following his three-day visit to Burma in mid-May.

January 31, 2006

The National Convention adjourns again but no scheduled date for next session is announced.

January 10, 2006

Delegates at the assembly begin discussions on the thorny issue of the Burmese army role in the future government.

December 5, 2005

The National Convention resumes in Nyaung Hnapin camp with a presence of 1,074 of 1080 invited delegates including representative of the ethnic ceasefire groups. An ethnic ceasefire group The New Mon State Party participates in the assembly in a low-profile as observers. Issuing a statement, the US State Department also slams the event as a sham attended by the junta’s hand-picked delegates. During the ongoing event, the military government organizes mass rallies in support of the NC.

March 31, 2005

The National Convention adjourns without scheduling an exact date for next round. Ethnic representatives from ceasefire groups, however, indicate that next session is expected to resume in the end of the year.

February 17, 2005

The NC resumes again in Nyaung Hnapin camp in Rangoon’s Hmawbi Township with attendance of 1,075 delegations including ethnic ceasefire groups.