Published on September 02, 2005

Constitutional convention will resume soon, foreign minister told in Rangoon

The Burmese military junta has vowed to continue its national conciliation process and its ruling generals are showing solidarity, Foreign Minis-ter Kantathi Suphamongkhon said yesterday, rejecting all rumours over the past week that paramount leader Than Shwe was sick and had been forced to step down.

After an 80-minute meeting with Burmese generals yesterday, Kantathi said Than Shwe looked fit and was able to brief him on several topics during the meeting.

“I’m not a doctor, but from my perspective, Than Shwe is healthy,” Kantathi said in a telephone conference from Rangoon to reporters.

Last week, Senior General Than Shwe, 73, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), was rumoured to have been ousted in an internal coup, and was reported later to have flown to Singapore for medical treatment. Kantathi was the first foreign official to visit Burma after the rumour.

Army Commander General Maung Aye, Prime Minister Soe Win, Foreign Minister Nyan Win and SPDC Secretary One Thein Sein were also present at the meeting.

Kantathi said the Burmese government would resume the national convention drafting a constitution in late November or early December, but it has not yet specified when an election would be held.

“They told me that next year will be an important one for the national reconciliation process,” said Kantathi.

Drafting a constitution is a part of seven-point road map towards national reconciliation and democracy created by ousted Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.

The process included general elections and release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the foreign minister said.

Kantathi was in Rangoon yesterday on a two-day visit to the military-ruled country. He discussed a wide range of bilateral matters including border issues and cooperation on energy.

The Joint Boundary Commis-sion would meet on border demarcation within two months, after a long delay, said Kantathi.

The problem of illegal Burmese labourers was also raised.

Thai officials asked the Burmese embassy in Bangkok to issue travel documents to its citizens in the city area and urged the Burmese government to take care of workers along the border.

More than one million Burmese labourers reside in Thailand, most of whom left the country illegally across the border and do not possess a passport.

Thai and Burmese officials also discussed energy cooperation, particularly a plan to build a hydropower dam on the Salween River.

Sopaporn Saeung

The Nation

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