Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (From an interview, before May 2003)
"In fact, it is not very difficult to draft a basic constitution. It is not difficult to draft it. You just need to turn the pages of this book and that book and invite a small group of people who understand legal matters and draft it and it could be on the paper. But, this kind of constitution would not be a respectable constitution. It would not be a constitution trusted and accepted by the majority of the people. It could not be a constitution respected by the world either. It could not be proper if you draft it with only the people you like. You have to draft it by learning whether the constitutional laws are in accordance with the wish of the people. I believe that all the people of the country will welcome it warmly if they are basic laws intended for the benefits of the country. And the world will accept it respectfully. Therefore, the method of drafting is very important.
"While basic constitutional laws are being drafted, people have the right to take part in discussions. It might not be directly. By discussing openly, freely through representatives elected by the people, and by keeping on drafting and drafting, you will know that the basic constitutional laws are in accordance with the desire of the people. If you don't follow this method and draft a constitution, it would be very hard to assess whether it is in accordance with the wish of the people.
"How are we going to ratify it? At some places, it is ratified with a referendum. If it is not drafted with freedom, it would be very doubtful also if the referendum could be free. I also believe that if the method of drafting is fair, the method for ratification would be right and just. We can assess that if the method of drafting is not right or fair, the method for ratification would not be right or fair either. It is necessary that the drafting method is right. It is the view of the National League for Democracy that it should be in accordance with the desire of the people.
U Htway Myint, vice-chairman of Democracy Party
"My desire is - I want them to be big-hearted (understanding). If they want peace and unity, they have to indicate it first for the sake of unity. For that - the first point is to release all detained political prisoners without exception in order to reduce the tense situation. That is the first point. For the second, our desire is - the generals have to let all elected representatives (MPs) who were elected during the election attend the national convention. We want all elected exiled MPs and those who were declared invalid to attend. This will reduce the tension vastly. That could be possible if it is done by the authorities who are in power."
Ko Htay Kywe, ex-political prisoner who was imprisoned 15 years for his role in the 8888 uprising in Burma
"If they reconvene the convention willy-nilly and if they carry on driving with the seven point 'roadmap', and try to solve problems without getting the consent of democratic forces, it is impossible to solve political problems on the international front or domestic front. All are waiting for a smooth resolution (transition)...This, very much depends on the decision of the ruling army generals. For the sake of the future of the country, what we want to be is - it would be better if all the parties concerned could choose a path that could solve and end all the problems smoothly. Ethnic national representatives could put forward their views. It would not be good if views differ in a later stage. What ideally should be is to find a solution by meeting and cooperating (means of dialogue). It should be a solution which is sorted out together among Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, army leaders and ethnic national leaders. If we could do that, that could be more useful."
Thakhin Thein Pe, veteran Burmese politician
"Not that I want to talk about it, but I do so because you want to talk about (political) dialogues. We had faced it personally before. If you can't have the dialogues, the union will collapse. Now, national races agree to cooperate with us. Later, we would not be in that position. They will want to set up their own state. Therefore, we are saying that the union will collapse. They (the Burmese generals) are very young. When I asked the age of the ministers, they are still less than 60 years old...It has been 52 years since we gained the independence. So when I calculate, it turns out that they were only 9 or 8 years old (when Burma gained independence). Sometimes, they even taught us the history (of Burma). We had to listen to them. They lasted one hour, two hours. (Laughs)
"The (1990) election was held by General Saw Maung. At the time, some of his speeches were very good. The army will hold an election. Those who win the election will be allowed to form a government. He said that the soldiers will return to their barracks. The UN also recognised the election result. All recognised it. In Burma, every one understood that it was a fair election. Therefore, we have been calling for the convening of a 'hlutaw' (parliament), because that parliament could be in accordance with the will of the people. Why can't they recognise a parliament elected by the people? We need to ask this. Why do we need to have a new one?