National Convention delegates,
At the plenary session of the National Convention held on 30 October 2006, the National Convention Convening Work Committee Chairman said, “Concerning political parties, a detailed basic principle “the State shall enact necessary law for systematic formation of political parties for flourishing of genuine multiparty democracy system” has already been adopted. In accord with the adopted detailed basic principle there should be a law to systematically establish political parties for flourishing of discipline flourishing genuine multiparty democracy system and emergence of political parties that will correctly lead the citizens. Only if the Constitution has the provisions, that are in accord with the political, security, economic and social conditions and traditions and customs of the nation, for political parties, can the respective laws that are enacted as necessary be observed. It is necessary for the National Convention to lay down detailed basic principles in connection with political parties to be prescribed in the Constitution.”

The Work Committee Chairman then said: A collection of detailed basic principles concerning the Chapter “Political Parties” will be presented as follows:

1. Political parties set the objective — nondisintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty.

2. A political party shall:

(a) accept and practise discipline-flourishing genuine multiparty democracy.

(b) abide by the Constitution and the existing laws.

(c) be legally registered as a political party.

3. In accord with the law, a political party shall have the right to:

(a) organize freely;

(b) to stand for the elections.

4. The continued existence of a political party shall not be permitted if—

(a) it has been declared as an unlawful organization in accord with the existing law;

(b) it makes connections with or provides support and assistance to insurgent groups waging an armed rebellion against the State, organizations or persons the State has announced as the ones committing terrorist acts or organizations the State has declared unlawful;

(c) it directly or indirectly receives financial, material and other assistance from the government or a religious organization, or any other organization or an individual person of a foreign country;

(d) it abuses religion for political purpose.

5. If the body having the authority to register political parities finds that a political party is connected with any one of the points stated in the above-mentioned para (4) and subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d), the party’s registration shall be revoked.

6. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall enact necessary laws concerning the political parties.

National Convention delegates,

The NUP finds that a collection of facts concerning the chapter explained by the Work Committee Chairman are appropriate for the long-term existence of parties and to become a national force serving the interest of the nation and the people.

The NUP finds the para (6) “The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw shall enact necessary laws concerning the political parties” appropriate. But we would like to suggest that serious consideration should be made to the inclusion of the proper rights of political parties in enacting the laws concerning their rulers.

In building a modern and developed democratic state through multiparty democracy system, the continued existence of political parties has connections with the task of serving the interest of the people and the nation. Hence, the members of the parties should be the qualified ones.

As the parties are formed with the aim of realizing the public wishes and desires, they should have the right to correctly exercise democratic practices and truly represent the people. Base on the past experiences, the present multiparty democracy system should be a prestigious one. The parties play an important part in serving the interest of the nation and the people.

Hence, the state should recognize the parties and render assistance to them for the parties to play their part significantly.

Union Pa-O National Organization agreed to the adoption of the six points of the Chapter “Political Parties” as detailed basic principles.

Shan State Kokang Democratic Party in its suggestion said, the Work Committee Chairman said that as all citizens should keep in the fore Our Three Main National Causes with conviction so do the political parties. Hence, the para 1 — Political parties set the objective — non-disintegration of the Union, non disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty — should be adopted.

The para 2 and subparas (a), (b) and (c) concerning rules and regulations for parties, para 3 and subparas (a) and (b) in connection with the organization and the permission to stand for election, para 4 and subparas (a), (b), (c) and (d) concerning the continued existence of a political party and the para 5 should be adopted as detailed basic principles.

Lahu National Development Party agreed to the adoption of the six points explained by the Work Committee Chairman.

Union Kayin League expressed belief that the points explained by the Work Committee Chairman will surely lead to flourishing of multiparty democracy system, emergence of parties that will correctly lead the people, systematic formation of parties in accord with the political, economic, security and social situation and traditions and customs and emergence of an allround developed nation. Hence the six points should be adopted.
Kokang Democracy and Unity party said the clarification saying that parties should be the ones able to strive for the flourishing of genuine discipline flourishing multiparty democracy in the whole Union and in all Regions and States in accord with political, security, economic and social situations and traditions and customs is appropriate and in accord with the nation’s prevailing situation. They are also in accord with the party’s stance. The points also state that administrative system of the future state and existence of parties. They should be adopted.

Wa National Development Party agreed to adopt all the six points. It also presented a separate suggestion, saying, “We would “like to present a suggestion concerning the chapter “Political Parties”. Political parties should be the organizations capable of heading towards flourishing of discipline-flourishing genuine multiparty democracy in the entire Union in accord with the nation’s political, security, economic and social conditions and traditions and customs. And it is a must. The parties will have to launch organizational campaigns to strengthen themselves in all aspects. But the parties will face a problem and obstacles if there is a prescription saying that all matters and functions should be free from politics. Such prescription is also against the objective — flourishing of genuine multiparty democracy system — of the six objectives of the National Convention. We would like to suggest that there should be no such prescription in our nation that will practice multiparty democracy in the future.”

National Convention delegates,

Of the four papers presented by representative select group, the papers presented by the representative of NUP and the representative of Mro or Khami National Solidarity Organization are the same as the papers presented by the respective parties.

Independent representatives-elect Dr Hmu Htan of Thantlang Township Constituency in Chin State, U Aung Thein of Ywangan Township Constituency in Shan State (South) and U Tun Kyaw of Namhsan Township Constituency in Shan State (North) in their suggestions said they are in support of the clarifications made by the Work Committee Chairman concerning the chapter “Political Parties”.

As a separate suggestion they said, “Myanmar has already witnessed the weaknesses and loopholes of the parliamentary democracy when she practised the system after regaining Independence. A study of those weaknesses and loopholes shows that they were the results of the lack of democracy experiences in history, the single party governance in real terms in the name of parliamentary democracy, the public intellectual progress that had not reached the level of defining and exercising the rights and duties of democracy with correct conviction, the political parties’ insufficient ability to train, educate and lead the people to exercise democracy rights with a sense of duty, and the lack of development in infrastructure that would help realize the essence of democracy more fully, the declining situation of democracy in the parties, and the growing centralized system. It is found that it is required to lay down detailed basic principles concerning the qualifications of political parties as necessary, after taking the experiences Myanmar had faced as lessons, for the flourishing of genuine multiparty democracy in the nation”.

“To ensure that there will be no disputes in the future, we would like to suggest that the point “The Union Hluttaw shall designate and prescribe the qualifications of political parties” should be added to the points already explained by the Work Committee Chairman.”

The parties should serve as a bridge between the government and the people for the emergence of a multiparty system benefiting the people. They should be the organizations that are able to lay down policies in conformity with the nation’s political, security, economic situations, customs and public interest. They should have the directives, fundamental policies and practices. There may be parties representing the whole nation for emergence of discipline-flourishing democracy as well as regional political parties representing the respective national races.

“Hence we would like to give a separate suggestion saying that the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in enacting laws concerning the political parties should consider permitting the establishment of political parties representing the whole Union as well as the respective regions.

“I will now discuss the matter “no right to exist” of a political party. The body having the authority to register political parties before revoking the registration of a party should make an accusation against the party only after presenting firm evidence. The party concerned should have the right to defend and appeal. The officials concerned should revoke the registration only after hearing the case thoroughly. We believe that there should be no lopsided charges against political parties. We would like to present a separate suggestion saying that the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw should enact laws and bylaws to observe the right of defence and the right of appeal of the political parties”.

“The political parties have the duty to resolutely serve the interest of the nation and the people. The parties should have the capability to lead towards flourishing of genuine and disciplined democracy in the entire nation. The leaders of the parties should be the ones who are sincere and upright. As they also are human beings they may make mistakes in certain matters. The problems of the parties should be solved within the parties. Action should not be taken against any party leader or member for his mistakes directly by the authorities concerned. The authorities should make consultations with the steering groups of the party concerned and action should be taken against the leader or member for his error in accord with the rules and regulations of the party. The matter should be put into consideration when laws and bylaws concerning the parties are drafted.

“Independent representatives-elect U Tin Win of Kyaiklat Township Constituency-2, U Thein Kyi of Taundwingyi Township Constituency-1, U Hla Soe of Minbu Township Constituency-2, U Mya Hlaing of Twantay Township Constituency-2, U Kyi Win of Mingaladon Township Constituency-1 and U Tin Tun Maung of Mingaladon Township Constituency-2 discussed in support of the clarifications made by the Work Committee chairman in connection with the chapter “Political Parties”.

The delegate group of national races agreed to the adoption of the six points explained by the Work Committee Chairman. It also gave the following separate suggestion:

“The para 2 of the chapter states as follows:

2. A political party shall:

(a) accept and practise discipline-flourishing genuine multiparty democracy.

(b) abide by the Constitution and the existing laws.

(c) be legally registered as a political party.

We would like to add another para which will be para “(d) A political party shall have the duty to be loyal to the State.” to the given detailed basic principle.

We present the suggestion as the emergence of firm and qualified political parties that will steer the nation towards the flourishing of multiparty democracy and the citizen’s loyalty to the State are essential requirements.”

The Delegate Group of Peasants agreed to the adoption of all the six points concerning the chapter — Political Parties.

It gave a separate suggestion, saying, “More or less, the weak points and advantages of the registration law can have impact on the political parties. If a large number of small parties stand for the election, people will find difficulties in choosing the candidates, and the formation of a majority government in the parliament will not be easy. And there cannot be a stable government. Hence, there are limitations in the number of parties as there should be a few numbers of large and strong political parties.

“The political parties should be the organizations that give priority more to the interest of the nation and the people than self-interest. They should be the parties that can cooperate with the opposition for the benefit of the state and the people whether they win in the election or not. The ruling party should stay away from bullying the opposition parties and conducting dictator-like acts. Hence we will have to draw a constitution that is in conformity with the future nation, while taking the past events as lessons.

National Convention delegates,

The Delegate Group of Workers presented a suggestion saying that the six points explained by the Work Committee Chairman concerning the chapter — Political Parties — should be adopted.

The Delegate Group of Intellectuals and Intelligentsia discussed in support of the six points.

The Delegate Group of State Service Personnel said, “The principles that are going to be adopted are the principles the world nations are practicing at present. We thank the Work Committee Chairman for presenting the principles in an objective way after studying international practices and Myanmar’s past lessons. The six points explained by the Work Committee Chairman should be adopted.”

The Delegate Group of Other Invited Persons said that the Work Committee Chairman’s clarifications are realistic. Moreover they are in accord with the six objectives of the National Convention to safeguard Our Three Main National Causes for peace, stability and progress of the future nation.

The group discussed in support of the 14 points concerning the Election, six points of the Political Parties and 23 points of the Emergency Provisions. It also presented a separate suggestion as follows:

“The forthcoming State constitution will have to demonstrate genuine multi-party democracy system with flourishing discipline. So, it is required to take lessons through the historic events to prescribe necessary provisions in order to avert such bitter experiences in which the nation and the people stood for the evil consequences from the weak points of the political parties.

“Political parties are responsible for serving the interests of the nation and the people steadfastly. However, by nature, a party may face internal or external disputes. So, it is needed to control and tackle such disputes in a democratic way under the law. Members of a political party should uphold the democratic ethics. At the same time, there should be effective measures to safeguard the nation and the people from any forms of dangers. Therefore, I would like to suggest that political parties should not create a situation that brings disunity and disputes into the party or the parties which poses dangers to the political affairs, security and economy of the nation.”