Roadmap To Democracy
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Myanmar's roadmap to democracy (; officially the Roadmap to Discipline-flourishing Democracy), announced by General Khin Nyunt on 30 August 2003 in
state media State media are typically understood as media outlets that are owned, operated, or significantly influenced by the government. They are distinguished from public service media, which are designed to serve the public interest, operate independent ...
, provided a seven-step process in restoring
democracy Democracy (from , ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which political power is vested in the people or the population of a state. Under a minimalist definition of democracy, rulers are elected through competitiv ...
in the country. Endorsed by the
State Peace and Development Council The State Peace and Development Council ( ; abbreviated SPDC or , ) was the official name of the Military dictatorship, military government of Burma (Myanmar) which, in 1997, succeeded the State Law and Order Restoration Council (; abbrevi ...
, it essentially describes the reassembly of the
National Convention The National Convention () was the constituent assembly of the Kingdom of France for one day and the French First Republic for its first three years during the French Revolution, following the two-year National Constituent Assembly and the ...
() in Nyaunghnapin, Hmawbi Township,
Yangon Division Yangon Region (, ; formerly Rangoon Division and Yangon Division) is an administrative region of Myanmar. Located in central Myanmar, the region is bordered by Bago Region to the north and east, the Gulf of Martaban to the south, and Ayeyarwady ...
to write a
constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...
, hold a national
referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...
to approve the constitution, hold a
general election A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...
to elect members to the Hluttaw (legislative body), and finally hold
parliamentary session A legislative session is the period of time in which a legislature, in both parliamentary and presidential systems, is convened for purpose of lawmaking, usually being one of two or more smaller divisions of the entire time between two elections. ...
s.


Phases

This road map has been variously translated into English as: # First Phase – To reassemble the
National Convention The National Convention () was the constituent assembly of the Kingdom of France for one day and the French First Republic for its first three years during the French Revolution, following the two-year National Constituent Assembly and the ...
, which had been suspended since 1996. # Second Phase – To implement step by step the requisite tasks for the founding of a democratic system when the National Convention has been successfully concluded. # Third Phase – To draw up a draft constitution based on the general concepts and detailed principles advocated by the National Convention. # Fourth Phase – To hold a national referendum to endorse the draft constitution. # Fifth Phase – To hold free and fair elections for the formation of the required national legislative bodies (Hluttaw). # Sixth Phase – To convene the meeting of elected representative to the Hluttaw. # Seventh Phase – The leaders, government and authoritative bodies elected by the Hluttaw to continue with the task of constructing a new democratic state. The translation found in the ''
New Light of Myanmar ''The New Light of Myanmar'' (, ; formerly ''The New Light of Burma'') rebranded as The Global New Light of Myanmar is a government-owned newspaper published by the Ministry of Information and based in Yangon, Myanmar. ''The New Light of Myanmar ...
'' is as follows: # Reconvening of the National Convention that has been adjourned since 1996. # After the successful holding of the National Convention, step by step implementation of the process necessary for the emergence of a genuine and disciplined democratic system. # Drafting of a new constitution in accordance with basic principles and detailed basic principles laid down by the National Convention. # Adoption of the constitution through national referendum. # Holding of free and fair elections for Pyithu Hluttaws (Legislative bodies) according to the new constitution. # Convening of Hluttaws attended by Hluttaw members in accordance with the new constitution. # Building a modern, developed and democratic nation by the state leaders elected by the Hluttaw; and the government and other central organs formed by the Hluttaw.


Reaction

Exile media and pro-democracy groups were critical of the road map, for its lack of set deadlines or time frames. The '' Myanmar Times'' claimed that the roadmap represented progress and hope for the eventual democratisation of the country. UN envoy to Burma,
Ibrahim Gambari Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, (; born November 24, 1944), is a Nigerian academic and diplomat who served as Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria from 2020 to 2023. He previously served as permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nat ...
pressed for a more "credible and inclusive" roadmap in 2008.


References

{{reflist Political history of Myanmar Government of Myanmar History of Myanmar (1948–present) Burmese democracy movements Reform in Myanmar 2003 documents