To be disciplined, to be tranquil & peaceful, to ensure permanent democracy depend
on people, political forces Combined efforts to be made farsightedly,
broad-mindedly to address dissention, distrust stemming from personal
attachment, sectarianism, foreign provocative acts

YANGON, 17 Feb—The following is a translation of the speech delivered by Chairman of the National Convention Convening Commission Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein at the Plenary Session of the National Convention.

Respected National Convention delegates,

I would like to extend my warm wishes to you, delegates, to be able to carry out the responsibilities of the National Convention successfully with peace of mind and body.

As is known to you all, delegates, the 1988 unrest triggered instability in the Union in the absence of the rule of law. Sovereignty was also on the verge of collapse. All the national people had to live in panic. In the end, the Tatmadaw had to assume the responsibility of the State as the situation was getting worse and as the Tatmadaw could no longer step aside from the deterioration situation. There are three possible dangers over which the Tatmadaw, since its assumption of the responsibility of the State, has been much worried, for they can harm national interest.

They are: the danger of Union disintegration, the danger of the explosion of conflicts at the collapse of national solidarity, and the danger of the loss of independence in other words, the sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Tatmadaw, since its assumption of the responsibility of the State, has vowed to ward off these dangers hand in hand with the people. Subsequently, the Tatmadaw has made public Our Three Main National Causes to deter the rise of these dangers by regarding them as the threats to nationalism.

At the same time, the Tatmadaw made concerted efforts to create a peaceful and prosperous life for the national people after laying down the four political objectives, the four economic objectives, and the four social objectives.

Politics and economy correlate. The rise of better political conditions brings with it better economic conditions. Strenuous efforts were made to build national consolidation which is central to the restoration of peace, stability and the rule of law as well as to the creation of national political forces.

There broke out a series of armed conflicts among national races for over 40 years, resulting in hardened dissension among them. After assuming the responsibility of the State, the Tatmadaw took great pains willingly to cultivate a sense of scruple like mutual understanding, tolerance and sincerity among the national brethren.

These well-intentioned endeavours produced belief and confidence, whereupon 17 armed groups of national races returned to the legal fold in succession. They are now lending themselves to the drive for regional peace.

By making the most of the fruitful results in the political confidence, steps were taken systematically in all seriousness beginning June 1992 to hold the National Convention as part of the crucial efforts to formulate an enduring State constitution the country needs. As a result, fundamental principles and detailed basic principles could be laid down at the National Convention that was held from 9 January 1993 to 30 March 1996. ‘Building of a new modern developed nation in accord with the new State constitution,’ which is the fourth point of the four political objectives, is the lofty political hope of the Tatmadaw government for the country and the people.

This being the case, ‘flourishing of a genuine multi-party democracy system’ was embedded in the National Convention Objectives as the fourth point. In our rounds of discussions, emphasis will be placed on the emergence of discipline-flourishing democracy.

Of the National Convention Objectives, non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of sovereignty are the three points key to the flourishing of the genuine multi-party democracy. The development of the political, economic and social infrastructures in the country is based on these three points.

Only when the embankment of the lake is strong will lily flowers be in full bloom. Likewise, only when Our Three Main National Causes are in order will democratic system last. No lily flowers blossom amid flames and hot ashes. In like manner, democracy will flourish only in the disciplined human society where peace and stability prevail with the rule of law.

Democracy cannot thrive in a country where insurgency erupts at the collapse of unity and stability. There were times in which democracy existed in name but was short-lived as a consequence of riots and anarchy. Even worse were some situation.

We all have seen the dismemberment of Unions, which were once strong. Lessons should be taken from such international events.

Democracy and the rule of law are inseparable. Discipline is a must for prolonged democracy. Therefore, we have pinned our hope on discipline-flourishing democracy.

To be disciplined, to be tranquil and peaceful, and to ensure permanent democracy are what concerns the people and political forces.

It is necessary that stability peace and the rule of law should reign the country. Besides, the fulfilment of infrastructures needed for national interest is what matters most.

The people should have a sense of scruple to elect will-rounded delegates. With this end in view, the Tatmadaw government is taking pragmatic measures to create and develop human resources, concentrating on the basic and higher education.

Fourteen years into the exercise of the 1947 Constitution in the country, the Union was on the brink of disintegration. Later, that Constitution came to a complete end.

The people made it clearly that they disapproved of the 1974 Constitution on account of one-party system and the negligence of private economic sector.

It will therefore be necessary to draw lessons from the previous constitutions, and care should be taken to avoid similar fates in the constitution now being formulated.

Now is the time to make combined efforts farsightedly and broad-mindedly to address the dissension and distrust stemming from the personal attachment, sectarianism, and foreign provocative acts.

It is natural that there exist saboteurs in the world. They are now hatching wicked schemes with fouled intention of making the country deviate from its current right track of nationalism.

On the other hand, the Tatmadaw, throughout the course of history, has never lost sight of the interests of the national people. Moreover, it has pledged to go on making concerted efforts to turn into reality the ambitions, hopes, and wishes of the entire people. The Tatmadaw will also cooperate with the simple national people who entertain patriotism and Union Spirit until the seven-point Road Map has been successfully implemented.

The National Convention Convening Commission, the NCC Work Committee, and the NCC Management Committee in tandem with the members of the Panel of chairmen carried out the tasks in unison and harmony during the time when the National Convention went into recess.

The panel of chairmen took time to observe the proposed papers submitted by the delegate groups at the National Convention that was held from 17 May to 9 July 2004. And they also compiled assessment papers. After collecting suitable proposals made by the delegate groups, the panel of chairmen submitted them to the National Convention Convening Work Committee, which then submitted them to the National Convention Convening Commission.

The findings of the panel of chairmen will be presented here on this occasion so that other delegate groups can make assessment of them. And then approval will be sought.

The Work Committee will present the principles concerning the sharing of legislative power at the Plenary Meeting.

The Work Committee will also clarify the matters related to the sharing of executive power and judicial power in different sectors like those concerning the Union, those concerning the Region or the State, and those concerning the Self-administered Area. The delegate groups are to hold discussions on the clarification and compile proposed papers. Later, the proposed papers related to detailed basic principles that shall be laid down for the executive and judicial sectors will be read out at the Plenary Meeting.

Now is the time when the winter is out and the summer is in. During this climatic change, you all, delegates, should take care of your health. I would like to urge you all to take preventive measures, receive treatment and do some physical exercises for health.

The Management Committee has been prepared to offer as much assistance as possible for your physical and mental health.

After all, I would like to urge you all, delegates, to be friendly, open and frank with one another as before.