Myanmar junta chief urges political parties to behave - Summary

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/261759,myanmar-junta-chief-urges-political-parties-to-behave--summary.html

Posted : Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:41:58 GMT
Author : DPA


Naypyitaw, Myanmar - Myanmar's military supremo on Friday urged political parties to abide by the constitution his junta pushed through last year and avoid "inciting unrest" prior to a general election planned in 2010. Senior General Than Shwe, 76, who heads the State Peace and Development Council, as the ruling junta styles itself, vowed to hold the election "systematically."

"I would like to request those who will be involved in organizing work for parties to refrain from inciting unrest, to avoid personal attacks and smear campaigns against other parties and to find unity in diversity by practising tolerance, forgiveness and understanding toward one another," Than Shwe said in a speech marking the 64th anniversary of Armed Forces Day.



Than Shwe appeared in good health as he stood in the hot sun for more than an hour to review 13,000 troops marching at the parade grounds in Naypyitaw, the military's new capital, in the annual ceremony marking the birth of the Myanmar Army, which has dominated the country's politics since a coup in 1962 toppled elected prime minister U Nu.

In his 10-minute speech, Than Shwe focused on the need for political parties to abide by the pro-military constitution and preserve the unity of the nation at a time then the country is gearing up for the election, whose date the junta has yet to set.

The last election, held in 1990, was won by the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Myanmar independence hero General Aung San, who is deemed the founding father of the armed forces.

It was still uncertain whether the NLD would contest the upcoming polls. The party's electoral win in 1990 was ignored by the military, which has kept Suu Kyi under house arrest for the 13 of the past 19 years.

Than Shwe warned that democracy in Myanmar is not yet "mature" and the military "has to safeguard the constitution and assure whoever is doing organizing work for political parties does it maturely."

In May, the junta pushed through a nationwide referendum on a new constitution that would essentially cement military control over any elected government in the future.

The referendum was highly criticized abroad because not only was it neither free nor fair but it was also pushed through on May 10 despite the devastation wrought by Cyclone Nargis, which hit central Myanmar on May 2-3, leaving 140,000 dead or missing.

Although the junta drew criticism for slowing down an international relief operation for the victims of Nargis, apparently to assure the referendum was carried out, Than Shwe used Armed Forced Day to brag of the relief effort.

"Another clear instance of the united strength of the government, the people and the armed forces can be seen in the expeditious and effective relief, resettlement and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the disaster brought about by the cyclone in 2008," he said, neglecting to mention the contributions made by the international aid community.

The constitution, which took 14 years to draft, was a crucial part of Myanmar's seven-step so-called road map to democracy, which is to end with next year's election.

Myanmar's military hierarchy is seeking to establish a "discipline-flourishing democracy," in which the armed forces play a guiding and disciplining role.

Meanwhile, in Yangon, authorities acknowledged that one man died and two other people were injured when a bomb exploded Thursday night in the North Okalapa district.

It was believed that the man who died had planted the bomb, allegedly as a sign of protest before Armed Forces Day.

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