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GUEST: Brad Adams, Asia Director with Human Rights Watch

After fourteen years, Burma’s military junta declared constitutional talks were complete after agreeing to a charter outline. However, the National Convention, which came to a close last Monday, still did not produce a written constitution. Acting Prime Miniser Lt. General Thein Sein told the 1,000 army selected delegates that work would ensue on the remaining six steps of the a a seven stage roadmap to democracy unveiled in 2003. This plan is stated to include a national referendum, elections and appointment of a parliament. Critics say that the National Convention has served simply to solidify military rule and brings neither reform nor real democratic change to Burma. These talks come on the heels of the arrests of a hundred Burmese activists as part of a wave of public dissent in recent weeks over a doubling of fuel prices. In the wake of these arrests and the closing of the assembly, Nobel Laureate Aun San Suu Kyi’s National League of Democracy continued to boycott the assembly. Analysts say that any charter that the assembly endorses will be aimed at cementing the power of Burma’s military leader.

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