State charter designers seek increased cohesion

State charter designers seek increased cohesion

Constitution Drafting 

A three-day seminar of 8 state constitution think-tanks have resolved to establish closer relations among themselves, according to the outcome of get-together on the last day (6 November 2002). 

In addition, it was recognized by the meeting of the importance to form ties with the Federal Union Draft Constitution Committee that was set up by the National Council of the Union of Burma, the umbrella organization of most exiled dissident groups, that had already produced the first draft since 1998. 

The seminar, jointly organized by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the Supporting Committee for State Constitutions (SCSC), also proposed 4 guidelines on which each state constitution should be based: Federalism, Multi party democracy, Protection of fundamental rights and Ethnic equality. "It becomes clear that the ethnic nationalities are faced with two very important challenges: to establish a genuinely federal union ... where there is no Mother State (or a Pyi-Ma) and the question of ensuring ethnic equality and rights, specifically within a multi-ethnic member state...", said Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, one of the speakers and Chairman of the SCSC which was formed on 27 August this year. 

Nearly 40 representatives and resource persons participated in the second seminar on State Constitutions held on the Thai-Burma border, 4-6 November. 

"If international assistance is only for economic development but not for political improvements, it will not help a country", said Sakuntala Kadingamar-Rajasingham of IDEA, an intergovernmental organization with 17 member states, created in 1995 to assist third-world countries in dealing with their political problems. 
"IDEA is also considering engaging the military government of Burma directly," she informed the participants. 

So far, only 2 states have completed their "initial" draft: Karenni and Chin. Karen, Mon and Arakan are still in the stage of producing their first drafts. Shan, set up on 9 September 2000, is still going through intensive popular survey trips and awareness raising activities. As for Kachin and Burma, both have just come into being. 

According to Sao Sengsuk, Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission of Shan State, the whole exercise is aimed among others, to "building pressure for the Tripartite Dialogue." 

The meeting was participated by representatives from the following groups: 

1. Arakan Constitution Drafting Committee;

2. Burma State Draft Constitution Study Group;

3. Kachin Constitution Drafting Committee;

4. Karen Constitution Drafting Committee;

5. Karenni Constitution Drafting Committee;

6. Mon Constitution Drafting Committee;

7. Constitution Drafting Commission of Shan State; and

8. Constitution Drafting Committee, National Council of the Union of Burma.