Burma's military rulers formally concluded a 14-year-long constitutional drafting convention yesterday, laying the foundation for a new charter intended to create the appearance of a more democratic system while still in effect preserving military control.
The so-called National Convention - which began in 1993, was suspended in 1996 and then resumed in 2004 - was charged with the task of laying out "basic detailed principles" for a new system of governance for Burma, ruled for years by a repressive military junta.
