Informarion Sheet A- 0066(I/L) (r)

[lintner@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dear all,

I saw that Okkar is repeating the myth that the 1990 election was meant 
to elect a group of people who were supposed to draw up a new 
constitution. For the sake of historical accuracy, please remember:

1) DDSI chief Khin Nyunt speaking before foreign military attaches in 
Rangoon, 22 September 1988 (quoted from SWB, FE/0265 1, 24 Sep 1988): 
"Elections will be held as soon as law and order has been restored and 
the Defence Services would then systematicallty hand over power to the 
party which wins." He didn't say a word about a new constitution.

2) Gen. Saw Maung, 9 January 1990 (at a "co-ordination meeting between 
the SLORC and State/Division LORCs at the office of the Commander-in-
Chief [Army], as quoted in General Saw Maung's addresses, 1990):

"We have spoken about the matter of State power. As soon as the election 
is held, form a government according to law and then take power. An 
election has to be held to bring forth a government. That is our 
responsibility. But the actual work of forming a legal government after 
the electon is not the duty of the Tatmadaw. We are saying it very 
clearly and candidly right now."

I wrote in a paper which I submitted at the conference in Korea in 
December 1994: 

"Drafting a new constitution was not an issue (before the election). On 
the contrary, Gen. Saw Maung lashed out against the pro-democracy 
movement, the National League for Democracy, for raising the issue of a 
constitution before the election, which was held eventually on May 27, 
1990. 

    In a speech on May 10 - two weeks prior to the election - Gen. Saw 
Maung stated: "A dignitary who was once an Attorney-General talked about 
the importance of the constitution. As our current aim is to hold the 
election as scheduled we cannot as yet concern ourselves with the 
Constitution as mentioned by that person. Furthermore it is not our 
concern. An new Constitution can be drafted. An old Constitution can 
also be used after some amendments." (sic. Working People's Daily, May 
11, 1990). "That person" was former Attorney-General U Hla Aung, who was 
close to the NLD and, at the time, researching constitutional issues for 
the pro-democracy movement.

    Statements such as Lieut.-Gen. Khin Nyunt's in September 1988 and 
Gen. Saw Maung's in May 1990 were conveniently forgotten when the NLD 
scored a landslide victory in the election, capturing 392 out of 485 
contested seats. In a direct response to the NLD's victory, the SLORC on 
July 27, 1990, issued decree 1/90 which stated, inter alia, that only 
the Slorc has the right to legislative, administrative and judicial 
powers "therefore, the representatives elected by the people are 
responsible for drafting a constitution for the future democratic 
state." This was the first time the Slorc mentioned the need for a new 
constitution.

     Within days of the announcement, the Slorc launched a massive 
campaign against elected NLD MPs. By the end of the year, 65 had been 
arrested, nearly a dozen had fled to neighbouring countries such as 
Thailand and India, and several resigned voluntarily. The elected 
assembly was never convened and army hardliner, Lieut.-Gen. Myo Nyunt, 
in a speech on August 27, 1990 ruled out a "quick transfer of power".

Hope this helps,
Bertil



Bertil Lintner
Bangkok