The on-going session of Myanmar's constitutional national convention has touched on the chapter of laying down detailed basic principles on designating the country's new capital, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday.

Whether Nay Pyi Taw will be set as the country's new capital in the new state constitution is being presented to the session by Attorney-General U Aye Maung who is also Vice-Chairman of the National Convention Convening Work Committee.

Aye Maung clarified on Friday's plenary session that the government has built the new capital "Nay Pyi Taw" in the region located in the central part of the country to further enhance national unity and facilitate transport with all the states and divisions and all the government institutions are now carrying out their normal functions at their head offices set up in Nay Pyi Taw.

Based on these facts, he suggested for discussions and approval on the adoption.

Along with the chapter, others such as "Election", "Political Parties","State of Emergency", "Amendments of Constitution", " State Flag, State Emblem, and National Anthem " are being raised at the current session.

The current session, which resumed on Oct. 10, has adopted the detailed basic principles on "Legislation of the Region or State Hluttaw (Parliament)", "Role of the Tatmataw (Armed Forces)" , " Citizenship, Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens".

Chapters remaining to be dealt with are "Provisions for Period of Transition" and "General Provisions".

Since the national convention started in 1993, it has adopted detailed basic principles for eight chapters out of 15 -- "The State Fundamental Principles (104 basic principles)", "Structure of State", "Head of state", "Legislature", " Executive", " Judiciary", "Tatmataw (Armed Forces)" and "Citizenship, Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens".

According to the seven-step roadmap, after the end of the convention, it will embark on the remaining steps of the roadmap which are outlined as undergoing a national referendum on draft of the constitution, holding a new general election to produce parliament representatives and forming a new democratic government.

Attending the convention are over 1,000 delegates coming from eight categories of delegate groups -- over 600 representing for national races (60 percent), over 100 each for state service personnel and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups, about 90 for peasants, 50 for intellectuals, 40 for workers, 20 for political parties and 10 for parliament representatives-elect (in the 1990 general election).

Source: Xinhua