Myanmar to hold national referendum in May and general election in 2010

Sunday, February 10, 2008

www.chinaview.cn
2008-02-10 04:35:38

YANGON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will hold national referendum on draft of the State Constitution in May this year and a general election in 2010, state-run Myanmar Radio reported in a night broadcast Saturday.

Myanmar State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) issued Saturday two declarations on holding of a national referendum on draft of the State Constitution and a general election to produce parliament representatives, according to official report.

Myanmar's National Convention to work out detailed basic principles for drawing up a new state constitution began in 1993 and successfully completed in 2007, the declaration No. 1 said.

The convention has adopted detailed basic principles for the new State Constitution, and Myanmar's State Constitution Drafting Commission is drafting the new State Constitution to be approved by the referendum, said the SPDC's declaration.

It was participated by over 1,000 delegates from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.

In order to transfer the state power from military government to civil government, a multi-party general election will be held in 2010 in accordance with the new State Constitution, said the SPDC's declaration No. 2.

The state constitution drafting commission was formed on Oct. 18, 2007 and started work in December as the third step of the road map to undertake the drafting of a new state constitution in line with the roadmap.

According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003,the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a new general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.


Editor: Mu Xuequan