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Junta ousts three from charter-draf



Junta ousts three from charter-drafting panel
(Reuters)
The Nation, December 8, 1997

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

A statement by State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) said that NCCC
chairman Lt Gen Myo Nyunt and vice-chairmen Lt Maung Thint and Brig Gen Myo
Thant had been replaced.

Minister of Hotel and Tourism Maj Gen Saw Lwin was appointed the new NCCC
chairman, while the minister of religious affairs, Maj Gen Sein Htwa, and
Brig Gen Pyi Sone were 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
SPRC came into being on Nov 15.

The SPDC , headed by Senior General and Prime Minister Than Shwe, has
several old faces from 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 ministers
and government bodies following the junta's shake-up.

The three NCCC officials who were removed had been moved by SPDC earlier
this month to a 19-member advisory group which according to local analysts
is a lame duck panel riddle 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-governmental 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.