Felicitations On Occasion Of Golden

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          Felicitations On Occasion Of Golden Jubilee Of Independence

	The independence journey of Burma, after being liberated from the British
colonialists on January 4, 1948, has now attained exactly its  fiftieth
year, on this day. We, the National Coalition Government of the Union of
Burma (NCGUB), put on record and honor, solemnly, the martyrs and heroes
who have sacrificed their lives and limbs for the independence of Burma. We
send this letter of felicitations, wishing the people of Burma to have a
life of freedom and happiness, equally as others, especially to be able to
enjoy the benefits of independence to the fullest extent!
	
Dear Fellow People of Burma,
	Burma, which had been with its own kings and identity, lost its
sovereignty and, after living in serfdom under foreign domination for 124
years, gained its independence in 1948. Independence was gained not because
of the effort of an individual, a group or an organization but because of
the united struggle of the entire national mass consisting of the various
ethnic nationalities. What is regrettable is that, as the civil war started
83 days after independence, it would not be wrong to name this year as the
year of  golden jubilee of the civil war, as well as that of the
independence. We the people of all the ethnic nationalities, have to endure
all the evil legacies and afflictions of the civil war, up to this day.

	The SPDC (formerly SLORC) has tried to cover up the civil war by spreading
false propaganda all over the world saying that there is no civil war but
only a group of wreckers bent on marauding. The SPDC is trying to conceal
the civil war deliberately,  because it does not want to resolve the
political problems by political means. The people must be aware  that the
civil war has been continuing, because instead of resolving political
problems by political means, arms might has been used. After independence,
as the successive governments have been mainly engaged in the attempt for
total annihilation, rather than cessation, the civil war has continued to
reach its golden jubilee.

	Development, peace and establishment of a modern state cannot be achieved
just by shouting the words, but good political conditions for them will be
obtained only when the problem of civil war is permanently settled. In
order to end the civil war and address the crisis of deteriorating
political, economic, social and health conditions, the political means of
genuine dialogue must be undertaken. 

	The essence of independence, which was gained through the unity of all the
indigenous nationalities, has entirely disappeared, the unity of the
indigenous nationalities is in pieces and the country, as the situation is
out of control, is on the verge of disintegration, because of  oppression
and division by the SLORC military dictatorship which had seized power by
using force of arms. During the 50 years of independence, the rights of the
ethnic nationalities and the basic rights of the people have gradually
dimmed and disappeared, and under the rule of the present SPDC military
council, the rights and freedoms are further suppressed. 

	In 1943, on the anniversary of the independence given by the Japanese,
Bogyoke Aung San, in his speech, said " Now, Burma has gained her
independence for one full year. What have we gained in this period ? To
tell you the truth, our countrymen have not tasted any benefit of
independence. Those who have had the benefits are only a few. Those few
people are the high ranking government officials, including myself, those
parasites who have attached themselves to these officials, and the newly
rich who are profiteering by taking advantage of the situation and using
the trouble of the people as their investments. Only these people are
enjoying the benefits of independence."  Similarly, even though the
independence has reached the year of golden jubilee, it is definite that
the people of Burma have not properly tasted the benefits of independence.  
  
         As the political, economic and social freedoms are extensively
restricted under the rule of the SPDC more than under the alien rule, the
life of the people has returned to the serfdom of the Middle Ages. The
arbitrary rule of the country,  with unjust orders and powers,  warlordism
and bribery, cannot bring peace and prosperity to the country, in the
future as well. During the four-8 movement and the 1990 election, the
ultimate goal of the people was democracy. As Bogyoke had once said, "
Should an ideology similar to fascism, under which democracy based on the
will of the people cannot survive, arise, then the people can no longer
have independence," only when the fascist dictatorship in Burma has
disappeared totally, will we be able to reach our goal of democracy. For
the establishment of a free, happy and peaceable society and for the demise
of fascist military dictatorship,  the whole nation must unitedly struggle,
in like manner as the entire people who had struggled unitedly during the
anti-colonialist and anti-fascist movements. 

	Therefore, we , the NCGUB earnestly urge and invite the entire people of
all the nationalities to join forces with us and struggle for the
establishment of a  new, peaceable, modern and democratic State. 
 
The Cabinet
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma

January 4,1998