JURIST - Paper Chase: Myanmar constitution talks adjourned until late 2006

[JURIST] The ruling military junta in Myanmar [CIA backgrounder] has closed constitutional talks [JURIST report] until late 2006, delegates said Tuesday. The convention to draft a constitution has been held intermittently since 1993, and is the first step on a seven-stage road map aimed at unification, democracy, and free elections for the country. There has been speculation as to when the talks will re-open, with some claiming that talks will not resume until December. Lieutenant General Thein Sein, who chaired the negotiations, has been quoted as saying that the convention will resume towards the end of the year, but did not provide a specific date. Several diplomats in Yangon questioned the legitimacy of the convention, saying that they are disappointed in the junta's lack of progress in implementing government reforms. The National League for Democracy (NLD) [party website] has boycotted the negotiations, demanding the release of their leader and other political prisoners [JURIST report]. AFP has more.

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