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NEWS - Burma celebrates 50 years of
- Subject: NEWS - Burma celebrates 50 years of
- From: BurmaJapan@xxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 01:47:00
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
Related stories:
Pro-democracy meeting in
Burma thwarted - May 27, 1997
Burma's opposition leader still
stuck by restrictions -
December 15, 1996
Burma curbs Suu Kyi's
movement, warns protesters -
December 12, 1996
Burma closes schools, confines
opposition leader - December
9, 1996
U.S. 'outraged' at Burma attack
- November 11, 1996
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