www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-08 01:08:52
YANGON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's completed constitution draft could not be amended and the government is committed to its seven-step roadmap to democracy which is underway, said a high-ranking official Friday.
Information Minister Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan made the remarks while meeting with Ibrahim Gambari, who is U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special adviser on Myanmar, the state-run radio and television reported in a night broadcast.
Gambari is on the second day of his visit to Myanmar in a renewed effort for the country's national reconciliation and democratic process. Kyaw Hsan made the remarks in response to a letter to Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe from the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dated Feb. 19.
Kyaw Hsan said Myanmar's seven-step roadmap has reached the fourth step of holding a national referendum on the completed constitution draft with a multi-party democratic general election to follow in 2010.
Myanmar citizens could exercise their equal polling rights to freely vote in favor of or against the constitution draft in the forthcoming nationwide referendum in May this year and then free campaigning by political parties will be granted in the general election to follow in 2010, he said.
Saying that the government's democratic process has already been inclusive of all parties, he blamed the National League for Democracy (NLD) for having stayed out of the constitutional national convention in its initial stage and not rejoining the convention when it resumed in 2004 after years of adjournment.
He said that Myanmar has cooperated with the U.N., citing the initiation of talks with NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi by appointing a liaison minister U Aung Kyi for the move and the release of prisoners in response to its calls.
He expressed hope that the U.N. would stay non-aligned in Myanmar's internal affairs and support its seven-step roadmap by persuading the NLD to join the roadmap. He criticized foreign sanctions imposed on Myanmar, saying that such a move created difficulties for the country's development.
He urged the U.N. to help eradicate poverty in Myanmar through lifting of sanctions rather than proposing the establishment of an economic aid forum for the country.
On Friday, Gambari also met with Supreme Court Chief Justice U Aung Toe, who is assigned as chairman of a 45-member commission for holding nationwide constitutional referendum, the radio and television report said.
Informed sources said Gambari will meet senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Saturday, arranged by the government.
Shortly after his arrival in Yangon on Thursday, Gambari already had talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, met the diplomatic corps, U.N. country team and resident representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Gambari's ongoing mission is the fifth since he was appointed to the post in early 2006 and the first after the Myanmar government announced on Feb. 9 a time table for holding the nationwide referendum in May this year.
On Feb. 26, the State Peace and Development Council enacted a 12-chapter 31-provision 2008 Republic of Union of Myanmar Referendum Law and set up a commission to govern the upcoming May constitutional referendum.
According to the government's 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.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
