MYANMAR highlighted the key role of the National Convention in
its democratisation process during a speech at the United Nations
General Assembly last week.
“It is the sole process through which the aspirations
of the people of Myanmar for establishing a modern and democratic
nation can be fulfilled,” U Tin Winn, a Minister in the
Prime Minister’s Office, said in the address on September
29.
He told an audience that included delegates from 191 countries
that the government was resolute in its determination to make
the National Convention a success.
“We cannot allow the National Convention to be derailed
under any circumstances,” U Tin Winn said.
“The future of the nation cannot be determined by one
individual or one party alone,” he said.
The National Convention reconvened on May 17 after a break of
eight years as a first step in the seven-stage road map for a
transition to democracy announced by the Prime Minister, General
Khin Nyunt, in August 2003.
The road map also provides for holding a referendum to approve
the constitution followed by elections.
U Tin Winn said the sensitive issue of power sharing between
the central government and the states and regions was the main
focus of discussion during the first session of the convention,
which ended on July 9.
“Power sharing is a vital and delicate issue as the country
is now evolving from a unitary government structure to a Union
structure where States and Regions will have their own executive
and legislative bodies,” U Tin Winn said.
“The new political structure needs to be strong and resilient,
and the country united,” he said.
The government was greatly encouraged by the outcome of the
first session, the minister said, adding that the second session
of the convention would resume in the “forthcoming open
season.”
U Tin Winn was a member of a delegation to the General Assembly
that included the new Foreign Minister, U Nyan Win, who was appointed
on September 18.
In a 15-minute speech, U Tin Winn also stressed Myanmar’s
commitment to combating terrorism, the drug trade and human trafficking.
He said terrorism was “one of the most serious challenges”
the world is facing.
“It threatens national sovereignty and violates human
rights, including the right to life,” U Tin Winn said.
He reiterated that Myanmar unequivocally condemned terrorism
in all its forms and manifestations.
“We have never permitted the use of our territory for
hostile acts against any State.
We have neither provided assistance to those involved in terrorist
acts nor safe haven to them. We never will,” U Tin Winn
said.
He said illicit trafficking in drugs was another challenge closely
linked to other transnational crimes.
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Thai FM backed for UN boss
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UNITED NATIONS – The 10-member
Association of Southeast Asian Nations has backed Thai Foreign
Minister Surakiart Sathirathai’s candidacy to succeed
Kofi Annan as UN secretary general in 2006, the Philippines’
UN ambassador said on September 29.
ASEAN voted unanimously at a meeting held the previous day
on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to support Sathirathai’s
candidacy, Filipino ambassador Lauro Baja said.
“It was a unanimous decision, but the other Asian
countries, non-ASEAN countries, may have their own candidate,”
Baja told reporters.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Baja noted that Asia, with 56 UN members, has the most nations
within the world body ahead of Africa, which has 53 members.
“And it’s Asia’s turn” to lead the
United Nations, he said.
Annan, who has headed the United Nations since 1996, has
said he will not seek a third five-year term when his current
term expires in 2006. Annan is from Ghana.
The last Asian to head the world body was Myanmar’s
U Thant, who was secretary general from 1961-1971. –
AFP |
“Myanmar accords topmost priority to the suppression and
eradication of narcotic drugs,” U Tin Winn said.
On human trafficking, he said some nations in the West accused
Myanmar of not doing enough.
“In fact, Myanmar views trafficking in persons as an evil
that must be suppressed through concerted action,” U Tin
Winn said.
He also criticised Western allegations of human rights violations
in Myanmar, saying they were aimed at “discrediting the
Government for political purposes”.
U Tin Winn touched on the role of the UN, saying Myanmar regarded
the world body as the “sole multilateral forum for addressing
urgent global issues.”
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, hosted a
meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly on September
29 to discuss ways of assisting Myanmar’s transition to
democracy.
The meeting was attended by representatives of more than 30
countries – Australia, Britain, France, Indonesia, Japan,
Malaysia, current European Union president The Netherlands, Norway,
Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam – as
well the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank and
Mr Annan’s special representative to Myanmar, Mr Razali
Ismail.
“We had a good discussion on the situation in Myanmar,”
Mr Annan said in the statement.
“Obviously, we have different and complementary roles
in Myanmar and we are going to continue our cooperation,”
Mr Annan said.
