On 17 February 2005, Burma?s ongoing National Convention was scheduled to reconvene. The briefer examines the National Convention including information on structure, process, reasons why it is illegitimate, democratic alternatives, and international responses... FEBRUARY 2005 UPDATE:- NO CHANGES IN SIGHT: Tightening Control of Ceasefire Groups; National Convention Process Unchanged; Crackdown On Shan Leaders Ahead Of National Convention; Discontent Brewing Amongst Ceasefire Groups; CRPP Rejects National Convention... CONCLUSION... RECOMMENDATIONS... BACKGROUND INFORMATION:- AN EXCUSE NOT TO CONVENE PARLIAMENT... ENTRENCHING MILITARY RULE: The Military Junta Does Not Want Democracy; Six ?Objectives”; Chapter Headings; 104 ?Principles”... FIRST STEP IN A ROADMAP TO DEMOCRACY? The 7-Point Roadmap; Fundamentally Flawed; Continuation of a Previous Failure; No End in Sight; Who Will Draft the Constitution?; 1990 Election Results Must Be Upheld; Democratic Forces Reject the Roadmap... NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF BURMA?S PEOPLE: Worse Than the 1993 Convention; Thugs and Drug Lords at the NC... THE REGIME?S DESPERATION: NC Structure; SLORC Order 5/96: Freedom of Expression Criminalized; 1,076 Handpicked Political Prisoners; Bizarre Regulations; Strict Script Supervision; Media Gagged, Blindfolded, Deaf; Divide-and-Rule: Joint Proposal Refused... ALTERNATIVES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION: Ceasefire Groups Also Want Democratic Process; Ethnic Groups Draft an Alternative Roadmap; Eight New Basic Principles from Democracy Movement... INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES: Exclusion of the International Community; ASEAN: The Failure Of Unconditional Engagement; UN Consensus; Western Condemnation.