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Representatives of Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and Singapore attend the three-hour meeting in Bangkok and UN Special Envoy to Burma Razali Ismail also joins the event. Win Aung explains the government’s seven step road map to democracy and claims that Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi have established a communication of confidence building as a part of the convention process. Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai heralds the meeting a "breakthrough," though critics maintain it yielded nothing.

 

December 10, 2003

A Rangoon-based ethnic umbrella organization, the United Nationalities Alliance— UNA is comprised of eight political parties representing ethnic Karen, Chin, Mon, Karenni (Kayah), Arakan and Shan—denounces the road map of the military government.

The US-based Free Burma Coalition cautiously welcomes the National Convention, the first step of the junta’s road map. The FBC says in its statement, "We sincerely believe it is a first step in the right direction for our country, which has long been devastated by political conflicts, economic decay and ethnic discontent." But the group emphasizes that its welcome is not to be misconstrued as a full embrace of the plan. It adds that it is essential for Aung San Suu Kyi and her party to participate in the talks.

 

November 10, 2003

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan criticizes Burma’s road map. Several groups, including the United Nationalities Alliance, the Karen National Union and the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, also express their reservations about the military’s plan to restart the National Convention.

 

Oct 22, 2003

Three more ceasefire groups say they will send delegates to the resumed National Convention, but stipulate several conditions. The United Wa State Army, the Shan State Army-North and the National Democratic Alliance Army, all from Shan State, demand freedom to meet with other ethnic leaders, free choice of delegates, free debate and an assurance that the convention will "lay down democratic principles."

 

September 2003

The Committee for Representing the People’s Parliament announces that the junta’s road map will not solve the country’s political and economic problems and that ethnic people will not accept it. The CRPP was formed by the National League for Democracy on Sept 16, 1998, because the junta failed to respond to renewed calls to recognize the results of the 1990 elections.

 

September 24, 2003

Representatives from two ceasefire groups in Kachin State take part in a demonstration to support the road map.