1) The document discusses the passing of Myanmar's 2008 constitution through a referendum, which received 92.48% approval.
2) It argues that the people support the government and constitution, as seen through the referendum results, and that anti-government groups should accept the people's will.
3) The government plans to continue democratic reforms according to its seven-step roadmap, while maintaining stability, and expects the people and opposition parties to cooperate in the process.
1) The document discusses the passing of Myanmar's 2008 constitution through a referendum, which received 92.48% approval.
2) It argues that the people support the government and constitution, as seen through the referendum results, and that anti-government groups should accept the people's will.
3) The government plans to continue democratic reforms according to its seven-step roadmap, while maintaining stability, and expects the people and opposition parties to cooperate in the process.
1) The document discusses the passing of Myanmar's 2008 constitution through a referendum, which received 92.48% approval.
2) It argues that the people support the government and constitution, as seen through the referendum results, and that anti-government groups should accept the people's will.
3) The government plans to continue democratic reforms according to its seven-step roadmap, while maintaining stability, and expects the people and opposition parties to cooperate in the process.
1) The document discusses the passing of Myanmar's 2008 constitution through a referendum, which received 92.48% approval.
2) It argues that the people support the government and constitution, as seen through the referendum results, and that anti-government groups should accept the people's will.
3) The government plans to continue democratic reforms according to its seven-step roadmap, while maintaining stability, and expects the people and opposition parties to cooperate in the process.
8 THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Thursday, 23 July, 2009
Wipe out anti-public desire elements (1)
Lu Thit It is common knowledge that the entire peo- ple are in favour of democracy, so that it is more To implement the seven-step Road Map, while carry- democratic in line with the law, in place of the one- party system. Besides, they are in support of the market-oriented economic system, by which they ing out tasks for national development without sacrific- can work widely to ensure greater development of the nation as well as better socio-economic life of ing State stability and community peace is the correct each individual and family. Therefore, the govern- ment is working hard practicing the market economy political trend as well as the most appropriate and the to improve the socio-economic life of the people in compliance with public desire. As a result, the nation has enjoyed development to a certain degree, safest way to achieve the goal of democracy. which is tangible to everyone. Simultaneously, the government is trying its The people’s massive support for the constitu- I am sure they have accepted straight from their utmost to complete the seven-step Road Map, grap- tion is largely due to the fact that the people are in heart that the result represents the public desire. It pling with a large variety of hindrances, disruptions recognition of the government’s efforts to do national is because some anti-government groups once im- and challenges against democratic transition. So far, politics and it is capable of fulfilling their three major plicitly conceded the result. In reality, they realize it has realized several democratization proceedings wishes. The people are in favour of stability and the people’s desire, but keep on betraying the na- such as convening the National Convention, formu- peace, and are opposed to subversive acts that can tional cause owing to their party attachment, sec- lating and drafting the State constitution, and approv- provoke instability, unrest and violence. They aspire tarianism and personality cult. ing the draft constitution through the referendum. to national development and betterment of their socio- To implement the seven-step Road Map, The government held the referendum in ac- economic life. They do not accept any forms of cases while carrying out tasks for national development cordance with the international level referendum that can hinder development. Every citizen wants to without sacrificing State stability and community law and bye-laws. Likewise, it formed commissions enjoy fully the freedom of acts and businesses in line peace is the correct political trend as well as the at all levels ranging from the central level to the with the law, and to achieve their goal of democracy. most appropriate and the safest way to achieve the grassroots level to supervise the proceedings for The foregoing points represent the genuine wishes of goal of democracy. That is the reason why the ensuring a free and fair one. Moreover, it published the majority of today’s people. people showed their massive support for the consti- books on State constitution, election law and bye- The people are in support of the government tution in the referendum in order that the nation can laws in time for public knowledge. with all seriousness that the ruling government is keep on marching at regular speed. The arrange- On the days in which the referendum was in capable enough of maintaining State stability and ments for 2010 multiparty democracy general elec- progress, foreign diplomats and representatives from community peace, undertaking tasks for develop- tion now have made a good headway. Many parties UN agencies were sent to various regions for their ment of the nation and the people, and playing a are found making preparations in the framework of first-hand knowledge of the proceedings in which leadership role in the democratization process, as the law. local people were casting their votes of their own aspired by the public. Thus, the people fully took It can be deduced from those points that the accord. The government made arrangements both part in the constitution-approving process or the entire people are in support of the programmes for pro- and for anti-constitution people to cast votes fourth step of the State’s seven-step Road Map. ongoing in line with the constitution for democra- freely. So, apparently, the referendum to approve These are all public wishes, so all have to honour tization they aspire to. The ruling government has the constitution was held fairly. the public desire. asserted that it will see to the seven-step Road Map In the referendum, 92.48 per cent of the voters Nevertheless, NLD is turning a blind eye to the in compliance with the mandate. The people will favoured the State constitution, so the constitution people’s desire and trying to disrupt the proceedings. never accept the anti-government groups’ attempts has had the mandate to go on. The United Nations secretary-general’s visit to to disrupt the ongoing programmes and will not That means the people are in favour of the Myanmar was followed by a large range of criticisms remain indifferent if the groups keep on trying to constitution and they place trust and reliance on from foreign media. In a BBC news programme on 14 make amendments to and revoke the constitution. the government. In the 1974 referendum, the July 2009, the spokesperson of the party said that they They should have realized that fact. constitution won only 90.17 percent of votes al- would hold on the policy that whether they would The people have approved the constitution though the party cells of the Myanmar Socialist stand for 2010 election or not, taking into considera- and given mandate to the government to build the Programme Party had been set up firmly and the tion the release of political prisoners including Daw new nation in consistence with the seven-step Road people were organized at national level. The Suu Kyi, a meeting to review the 2008 constitution, Map. That means the 1990 election results, to which percentage at that time should have been higher and the government’s reaction to those two points; anti-government groups stick, have been null and than this time. Despite internal and external adding that it was impossible for them to stand for void. The people do not turn to the results of more elements organizing and putting pressure on the election without any action on 1990 election results. than 19 years ago. Similarly, the anti-government people, the percentage of the votes in favour was It has been about one year internal and external groups’ persistent demand for a dialogue has gone 92.48, higher than that in 1974. So, it is crystal anti-government groups have refused to respect the down the drain. The people’s memories are still clear that the people are really in favour of and people’s desire, variously criticizing the already- fresh that they gave various reasons to refuse to they accept the constitution. approved constitution. They remain intransigent, but attend the National Convention even though they were given opportunities to submit their opinions and hold discussions at the convention. The demand the NLD spokesperson made for 1990 election results, to which anti-government release of political prisoners including Daw Suu Kyi is unreasonable at all. The government has said groups stick, have been null and void. The people do many times that there are no political prisoners in Myanmar. They are, indeed, the ones who are not turn to the results of more than 19 years ago. serving their terms in accordance with the law for their harming stability and peace of the State, and committing other crimes. Daw Suu Kyi, like them, Similarly, the anti-government groups’ persistent de- is not a political prisoner, but the person who is on trial for breaching an existing law. mand for a dialogue has gone down the drain. (To be continued) Translation: MS