Burma rulers claim constitution summit a success, despite boycott

BURMA’S military rulers yesterday said a constitutional convention, touted as a first step toward democracy, had a successful start despite an opposition boycott and massive international criticism.

The junta said 1,076 of the 1,088 invited delegates were present, but made no mention of dissident Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party and two allies who stayed away in a boycott that observers say reduces the event to a meaningless sham.

The NLD chose not to attend after the government rejected its demand that Suu Kyi, the party’s general secretary, and Vice Chairman Tin Oo be freed from house arrest first.