NCGUB Rejects ‘So-called State Constitution’ , Military Proposed Referendum

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)
Press Release
February 10, 2008

Dr Sein Win, prime minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, said, “We do not endorse the state constitution in its present form and the people will never ratify it. But, the Burmese generals are probably already taking steps to ensure that they get the results they want from the referendum”.

The headlong decision by the military regime to hold a national referendum in May is a knee-jerk reaction to the growing problems the Burmese generals are facing.

The regime, as the Burmese would say, is “a mad man surrounded by fire” and since it is plagued by economic woes, increasing international pressure, and widening public discontent at home, it has impulsively decided to convene a national referendum to overcome the problems.

In fact, the so-called state constitution, which the people are supposed to endorse at the national convention, is yet to be seen by public until now. But, judging from reports carried by the state-run press during different sessions of the military-organized National Convention which compiled the so-called “objectives” and “principles” to be taken into consideration during the drafting process, the new constitution will do nothing for democracy and will merely legitimize the current rule of the Burmese generals.

Dr Sein Win, prime minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, said, “We do not endorse the state constitution in its present form and the people will never ratify it. But, the Burmese generals are probably already taking steps to ensure that they get the results they want from the referendum”.

The NCGUB believes that it is imperative for the international community to oppose the military-sponsored constitution and the regime’s referendum plan. It must continue to strive to bring about an inclusive process which will determine the political future of the country and which also include all political parties, including the National League for Democracy and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, and other ethnic nationality forces.

It is also time for the international community to give through the UN Security Council a stronger mandate to the UN Secretary-General’ s Office and enable it to play an effective mediatory role in bringing about an equitable solution to the political deadlock in Burma.