National Convention, Constitutional Outline of

   In the mid-1990s, the National Convention published a detailed outline of a proposed constitution, though it has not issued the final draft. Its most fundamental characteristic is the dominant role that the Tatmadaw would continue to play in the new political system: onequarter of all seats in the bicameral national legislature would be allocated to military personnel; the armed forces would continue to have a major role in national and regional administration, especially in relation to security matters; and would have a decisive say in choosing the Union president. The Tatmadaw would appoint the ministerial portfolios of defense, home affairs, and border security and be free of supervision or control by civilian officials. Martial law could be reimposed in times of national emergency, just as in 1988. The outline reflects the military regime's conviction that civilian politicians ought not to "meddle" in national politics; but it also owes much to the model of President Suharto's "New Order" in Indonesia, especially the guaranteed military seats in the law-making body and tight restrictions on political parties.