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NEWS - Burma celebrates 50 years of



Burma celebrates 50 years of independence

                    January 4, 1998
                    Web posted at: 4:01
                    a.m. EST (0901 GMT)

                    RANGOON,
                    Burma (AP) --
                    Burma's
                    military rulers
                    warned against "neo-colonialism"
                    and their opponents called for
                    democracy as the country
                    celebrated its 50th anniversary of
                    independence from Britain Sunday.

                    Pro-democracy leader Aung San
                    Suu Kyi said that despite having
                    reached its golden jubilee as an
                    independent nation, Burma still
                    lacked basic human rights and
                    suffered from a deteriorating
                    economy. 

                    "To be able to stand proudly as
                    citizens of a democratic nation, I
                    would like to urge all people to help
                    achieve democracy for our
                    country," the Nobel Peace Prize
                    winner told some 500 supporters,
                    diplomats and others who gathered
                    at her compound. 

                    In Rangoon, the capital, and
                    elsewhere the day was celebrated
                    with simple, flag-raising
                    ceremonies and exhibitions. 

                    Burma regained independence on
                    January 4, 1948, after more than
                    120 years of British rule and a
                    largely peaceful struggle led by
                    Suu Kyi's greatly revered father,
                    Gen. Aung San. 

                    Since 1948, Burma has been under
                    authoritarian, military-led rule. Its
                    somewhat turbulent experiment
                    with democracy ended in a 1962
                    military coup. 

                    In an Independence Day message,
                    the chairman of the ruling military
                    council, Gen. Than Shwe, called on
                    people to defend national
                    sovereignty and oppose attempts
                    by neo-colonialists to destabilize
                    the country. 

                    "We must be vigilant against
                    various wily schemes of some
                    neo-colonialists who frequently
                    interfere in the internal affairs of
                    others," said the message, which
                    was read out at a flag-raising
                    ceremony at Rangoon's People's
                    Park. 

                    Burma's leaders use the term
                    "neo-colonialists" to describe
                    Western nations, especially the
                    United States, that seek to foster
                    democracy in Burma as well as
                    Burmese opposed to their rule who
                    maintain contacts with the West. 

                    Suu Kyi urges 'meaningful
                    dialogue'

                    In her speech, Suu Kyi called for
                    national reconciliation. 

                    "The main duty for us is to have a
                    meaningful dialogue to solve all
                    political problems," she said,
                    apparently referring to thus far
                    unsuccessful efforts to promote
                    talks between the military and Suu
                    Kyi's National League for
                    Democracy. 

                    The league held its celebration in a
                    thatch-roofed auditorium at Suu
                    Kyi's suburban villa. It included
                    speeches by other league leaders
                    as well as song and dance
                    entertainment. 

                    Although access to her house has
                    been blocked to the public for the
                    past year, authorities allowed
                    outsiders to enter her compound
                    Sunday. Guests included United
                    Nations officials and diplomats
                    from the French, Italian, American,
                    Philippine and Japanese
                    embassies. 

                    Suu Kyi rose to prominence during
                    the pro-democracy uprising of
                    1988 in large part because of the
                    high regard Burmese still hold for
                    her father. 

                    After violently crushing the
                    uprising, the military placed Suu
                    Kyi under six years of house arrest
                    in 1989 and ignored the results of
                    the 1990 elections, which her party
                    won by a landslide. 

                    Although many of her supporters
                    have been jailed, Suu Kyi herself
                    has avoided imprisonment,
                    apparently because of her
                    international support and because
                    of her father, who was
                    assassinated not long after
                    independence was won. 

                      


                         Newsmaker Profile - Aung San
                         Suu Kyi 

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