Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Sat, 23 Jan 1993 18:03:09 PST
From:         Coban Tun <tun@QUARK.SFSU.EDU>
Subject:      BURMA - AUSTRALIAN ENVOY ON CONVENTION POSTPONEMENT

01/19 2110  BURMA - AUSTRALIAN ENVOY ON CONVENTION POSTPONEMENT

(JAN. 19) PAC RIM INTELLIGENCE REPORT - There is growing speculation that
Burma's constitutional talks may have been abruptly adjourned to head off open
dissent against the military's insistence that it has the role in the future
political leadership.
   Burma's military regime called the talks to set up guidelines for a new
multiparty constitution which many Western nations cited as condition for
resuming ties. But Evan Williams reports from Rangoon that foreign observers say
it appears that the talks may have been called off until next month to avoid a
confrontation with civilian delegates.
   (Begin recording) (Williams) Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council
or SLORC says the delegates were sent home until 1 February so they could more
fully prepare and consult on key areas. The talks were called to set out the
guidelines for a new constitution to be written before the transfer of power
to a civilian government.
   The regime denied there was any other reason for the convention's abrupt
adjournment which caused an audible hum of suprise among the 700 delegates
when it was announced just two days after the talks opened. The delegates from
Burma's many ethnic groups and political parties were at the talks, but when I
went to Aung San Suu Kyi's former National League for Democracy (NLD) Party
Headquarters for their reaction, nervous officials told me to go away until I
had the regime's permission to speak to them. Nothing is certain in today's
secretive Burmese society, but many foreign diplomats say while there may be
some truth in the need for more work by the delegates, it appears one of the
main reasons for the adjournment was a move by some delegates, possibly as many
as 90, to challenge the military's insistence that it be guaranteed a role in
the future political leadership.
   If the NLD is going to make a move, they say, it has to be done at the
convention. Pamphlets circulating before the talks point out that a multiparty
democracy cannot have a leading role reserved for the military, and some
observers say the regime may have adjourned the talks to avoid a confrontation.
   Australia's ambassador, Geoffrey Allen, said the regime's revocation of some
restrictions, release of hundreds of political prisoners, and the convention
itself have to be seen as an advancement, but it is still unclear they mark the
beginning of a lasting and meaningful transfer of power to civilian authority.
   (Allen) So it does, I suppose, provide them with an opportunity to go back,
consider the various points that have been raised at the convention, and come
back in two and a half weeks prepared to discuss more seriously about what they
would like to see in the new constitution. It is a step, but we are all, of
course, worded about the excessive preoccupation by the military about the Army
playing a major role in the future leadership of this country. Yet, a number of
the political parties have drawn attention to the fact these are  incompatible
with a number of other objectives 'laid out by the military  themselves, and
it is going to be interesting to see how far the military is prepared to
acknowledge that fact and may be to (?move out), what is at the moment, a
fairly hardline position.
   (Williams) Do you think in fact that the fact it was raised by some of those
parties in fact was one of the reasons why the convention was put into recess?
   (Allen) I think there is probably an argument to be developed that way. I
think the closer the convention came, the more papers seem to be circulating
about the incompatability of the military interests in retaining a national
leadership role and the other principles of establishing a genuine multiparty
democracy or democratic state and the principles of justice, equality and
freedom.
   I would like to believe that the military is having to look at some of those
quite well documented research and argued papers and may be themselves conclude
there has got to be more flexibility on their side if their own six principles
are to be fully respected in the new constitution. (end recording)
   From Radio Australia in English
   Date 15 January 1993
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