Myanmar constitutional convention completes work on guidelines News
Myanmar constitutional convention completes work on guidelines

[JURIST] A convention convened by the government of Myanmar [JURIST news archive] to establish guidelines for the eventual drafting of a new national constitution [JURIST news archive] completed work at its final session [JURIST report] Friday as international pressure increased for the government to release demonstrators [JURIST report] arrested last week for participating in a peaceful protest against a recent rise in fuel prices. The convention, criticized for being dominated by the military junta that named most of its members and excluded pro-democracy activists like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi [advocacy website; JURIST news archive], will formally complete its work Monday. It is not yet clear who will draft the actual constitution or how that process will occur, but the Myanmar government has pledged to put the resulting document to a vote in a national referendum.

Myanmar has been governed without a constitution since the military regime took power in 1988. Talks on a new national charter have been underway for 14 years. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Egypt President Anwar Sadat visits Israel

On November 19, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, becoming the first leader of an Arab nation to officially visit. Two years later, President Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize Israel by signing the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Read President Sadat's address to the Israeli Knesset.

Jay Treaty signed

On November 19, 1794, US Chief Justice John Jay and British foreign secretary Lord Grenville signed a treaty in Philadelphia under which British forces pulled out of the disputed Northwest Territory. Review the Jay Treaty.