The 2008 Constitution: An Obstacle to Free and Fair Elections in 2010?
February 18, 2010
777 United Nations Plaza
10th Floor
New York, NY 10017
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Senior General Than Shwe, current head of state of Burma, announced that the military junta will hold general elections in Burma during 2010. Despite any appearance of democratic administration of the elections, a free and fair election is presently unattainable due to fundamental flaws embedded within the 2008 Constitution that undermine certain basic democratic principles. Without revision, the 2008 Constitution cannot provide a foundation for future democratic governance in Burma.
The National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) cordially invites you to participate in an open panel discussion concerning the impact of the 2008 Constitution on the free and fair 2010 elections and the advancement of democracy in Burma.
The panelists will provide background on the development of 2008 Constitution and highlight specific aspects of the 2008 Constitution that would prevent free and fair elections in 2010 and the advancement of democratic institutions, such as the disproportionate influence of the military within the legislature and the military’s effective control over amending the Constitution. The panel will also provide their views on actions the international community can take – in the near term – to promote democracy in Burma.
Our esteemed panelists will include:
Meghan Stewart, Esq.
Post-Conflict Constitution Expert and Burma Program Director, Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG), Washington, DC.
Professor David C. Williams
John S. Hastings Professor of Law and Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Democracy, Maurer School of Law, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Myint Soe
Secretary, National League for Democracy – Liberated Area (NLD-LA).
A question and answer session will follow the panelist presentations.
If you have any questions, please contact Moe Chan at (646) 643-8689 or oway_student@yahoo.com
Source
RiseUp.net
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | burma, myanmar, new york, UN, United Nations
