TIMELINE: Myanmar's slow road to a new constitution

(Reuters) - Myanmar's military government will hold a referendum on a new constitution in May this year followed by multi-party elections in 2010, the first in two decades, state television announced on Saturday.

Here is a chronology tracing the former Burma's contentious constitutional affairs since its independence.

1947

- July 19, 1947 - General Aung San, Suu Kyi's father and the architect of Burma's independence from Britain, is assassinated in Yangon along with six members of his pre-independence cabinet.

- Jan 4, 1948: The Union of Burma declares independence. A new charter establishes a bicameral parliament.

- March 1962: General Ne Win launches a military coup. He discards the constitution and establishes a Revolutionary Council of military leaders who rule by decree.

- March 1974: A new constitution transfers power from the armed forces to a People's Assembly of former military leaders headed by Ne Win. It allows for a unicameral legislature and one legal political party. Ne Win is installed as President.

- 1988: Ne Win resigns as decades of economic strife and ethnic tensions boil over into anti-government riots. The military takes direct power under the name the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), and annuls the constitution.

- June 19, 1989: The military government changes the official name of the country from Burma to the Union of Myanmar.

- May 27, 1990: The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi wins 392 of 485 seats in the first multi-party general election since 1960.

- June 19, 1990: SLORC chief Saw Maung rules out a quick transfer of power, saying a new constitution is needed first.

- Oct 14, 1991: NLD leader Suu Kyi is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, while under house arrest.

- 1992: General Than Shwe becomes head of the junta and prime minister. Plans for a new constitution are announced.

- Jan 11, 1993: A National Convention on a new constitution is abruptly adjourned, after delegates oppose a clause stating the military must have the leading political role.

- Nov 28, 1995: Convention reconvenes. NLD pulls out, saying the process does not represent the will of the people.

- June 4, 1996: The government hints the NLD may be outlawed, Suu Kyi says her party plans to draft a separate constitution.