1. Coordination meeting for convening the national Convention: Prior to the National Convention, the Government held discussions with representatives from political parties, independent representatives-elect and representatives from the parties who were elected in the 1990 election to convene the National convention. The coordination meeting passed the following points:

(a) Six objectives of the National Convention of the State

The coordination meeting agreed to convene the National Convention in accordance with the following six objectives:
(1) Non-disintegration of the Union;
(2) Non-disintegration of national solidarity;
(3) Perpetuation of sovereignty;
(4) Flourishing of a genuine multi-party democracy system;
(5) Further burgeoning of the noblest and worthiest of worldly values such as justice, liberty and equality; and,
(6) The Tamadaw to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the future State.

(b) Designation of walks of life and number of representatives of delegate groups
The coordination meeting designated walks of life and number of representatives of delegate groups as follows:-

(c) The government launched the National Convention in 1993 only after holding thorough discussions with the representatives at the coordination meeting. The National Convention was not convened according to the wish of the government alone. However, internal and external destructive elements are variously criticizing the government in connection with one of the six objectives of the National Convention the Tatmadaw to be able to participate in the national political leadership role of the future State.

Sessions of National Convention held from 1993 to 1996

2. Holding sessions of National Convention: Altogether six sessions were held from 1993 to 1996.

3. Tasks carried out by sessions of the National Convention: The six sessions of the National Convention from 1993 to 1996 completed the following tasks:

(a) Laying down basic principles: 104 basic principles for drafting the State Constitution were laid down.
(b) Laying down detailed basic principles: The National Convention laid down the detailed basic principles of the following seven chapters.

(1) The detailed basic principles for the chapter ‘The State’
(2) The detailed basic principles for the chapter ‘The State Structure’
(3) The detailed basic principles for the chapter ‘The Head of State’
(4) The detailed basic principles for designation Self-Administered Divisions or Self-Administered Zones
(5) The detailed basic principles for Formation of the Legislature
(6) The detailed basic principles for Formation of the Executive
(7) The detailed basic principles for Formation of the Judiciary

4. Temporary adjournment of the National Convention; The sessions of the National Convention were held successively and fundamental principles and detailed basic principles were laid down for the writing of the State Constitution. Yet, the NLD party walked out of the National Convention of its own accord, and in consequence, the drive for convening the National Convention and making political progress suspended temporarily. In reality, the act of the NLD reflected the tangible proof that it completely ignored the interests of the nation and the people but gave priority to the interests of its own and wish of an individual and the west bloc. Had the NLD given priority to the interests of the nation and the people and cooperated with the government with a positive attitude at that time, the State Constitution would have been completed earlier and the multi-party democracy system the entire people desired, would have been introduced. Yet, the NLD’s act delayed the process of the National Convention.

5. Even though the government had faced such difficulties, it did not lose sight of the wish of the entire national people- the emergence of a democratic nation. Giving the priority to the interests of the nation and the people, the government convened the National Convention from 17 May to 9 July in 2004. The government invited all the ten political parties including the NLD that attended the National Convention from 1993 to 1995. In fact, the NLD walked out of the National Convention of its own accord in 1995. So only if the NLD applied for the attendance of the National Convention, the government would have to take into account its application. And the NLD did not apply for attending the National Convention. However, with a view to ensuring national solidarity and reconvening of the plenary session of the National Convention representatives of all the parties and delegate groups, the government invited the NLD. The NLD replied that it would attend the National Convention but it demanded the greater number of its delegates to the NC and inviting only its delegates who it proposed. The government satisfied is demands. The NLD again failed to attend the National Convention.

Nor did the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and Shan State Kokang Democracy and Unity Party that were under the influence of the NLD. Whatever, it may be, the remaining political parities, representatives-elect and representatives of delegate groups with Union Spirit unanimously attended the National Convention and gave priority to the interests of the nation and the people rather than a single party or a race and were united in the discussions. As a result, the 2004 National Convention was over successfully.

8. The 2005 National Convention and deletgates attended: The 2005 National Convention was reconvened on 17 February 2005. Delegates were invited according to the list of the delegates who had attended the 2004 National Convention. All the delegates except five delegates from SSA of Shan State (North) Special Region-3 attended the convention. The delegates from SSA did not attend the convention not because the government or the National Convention Convening Commission barred or put pressure on them but because they officially informed the authorities concerned that they be excused from attending the National Convention due to their internal affairs. Altogether 1,081 delegates from eight groups attended the Convention and discussed matters relating to the National Convention

(b) Continued discussions on detailed basic principles were made: At the National Convention, detailed basic principles for sharing of executive and judicial powers were discussed. All eight-delegate groups have submitted their proposals on detailed basic principles for sharing executive and judicial powers to the National Convention Plenary Session.

(c) Adjournment of the convention: The National convention was adjourned starting from 31 March 2005 to avoid a long break of agriculture, trade and commercial matters of the delegates and due to the hot summer. The National Convention sessions are planned to resume at the end of 2005 when there is less agriculture work and the weather is fine.