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Burmese Regime Removes Foes From NC



RANGOON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Burma's newly-named military government said on
Sunday it had removed three senior officials of the key National Convention
Convening Commission (NCCC) in charge of drafting a new constitution for the
country. 

A statement by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) said that NCCC
chairman Lieutenant General Myo Nyunt and vice-chairmen Lieutenant General
Maung Thint and Brigadier General Myo Thant had been replaced. 

Minister of Hotels and Tourism Major General Saw Lwin was appointed the new
NCCC chairman, while the Minister of Religious Affairs, Major General Sein
Htwa, and Minister of Social Welfare, Brigadier Gen Pyi, Sone were named vice-
chairmen. 

The three officials who were replaced formerly belonged to the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the predecessor of the SPDC. The SPDC was
named on November 15. 

The SPDC, headed by Senior General and Prime Minister Tha Shwe, has several
old faces from the SLORC in it, but some other military leaders and ministers
have been left out. 

The SPDC is in the process of questioning officials of several ministries and
government bodies following the junta's shake-up. 

The three NCCC officials who were removed had been moved by the SPDC earlier
this month to a 19-member Advisory Group which according to local analysts is
a lameduck panel riddled with rumours that its members are corrupt officials. 

The NCCC first convened in January 1993 when a total of 702 delegates
appointed from various political parties, non-government organisations, ethnic
groups and government officials attended a National Convention. 

Eighty-six delegates representing the major opposition National League for
Democracy party led by Aung San Suu Kyi withdrew from it in September 1995,
claiming it was a sham. 

The National Convention has been in recess since March 1996. REUTERS 

01:01 12-07-97